Australia’s spyware law could expose phones to exploitation

Peter Dutton’s proposed legislation to expand the government’s surveillance capabilities into telecommunication devices through the inclusion of spyware risks could create “systemic weakness or vulnerability” that would be open to exploitation, Australia’s peak industry group has warned.

The Australian Industry Group has responded to the call for consultation on the assistance and access bill by warning of unintended consequences from the home affairs minister’s push to force telcos and tech giants, including Apple, Samsung, Google and Facebook, to include concealed “backdoors” into devices and messaging platforms.

Source: Australia’s spyware law could expose phones to exploitation, business group warns