Can Australian government departments use ISP meta data for general analytics
<p>In Australia all ISP s have to capture 2 years of all users metadata, a number of government departments can access the data with out warrant. We are told this is to track terrorists, criminals and peodophiles. </p>

<p>Knowing the internet usage of all people in Australia would create a data goldmine that could be used for far more than chasing criminals. Under the legislation could they use the data for general analytics</p>

<h2>No</h2>
<p>Your question states &quot;a number of government departments can access the data with out warrant&quot; - this is not true. <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/taaa1979410/s110.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">s110</a> of the TELECOMMUNICATIONS (INTERCEPTION AND ACCESS) ACT 1979 requires a warrant before accessing data.</p>
<p>Further, such warrants are for specific persons so cannot access &quot;the internet usage of all people in Australia&quot;.</p>
<p>This is all summarized in <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/taaa1979410/s107g.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">s107</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The purpose of the preservation is to prevent the communications from being destroyed before they can be accessed under certain warrants issued under this Act.</p>
<p>Under the system, certain agencies can give a preservation notice to a carrier requiring the carrier to preserve all stored communications that the carrier holds that relate to the person or telecommunications service specified in the notice.</p>
</blockquote>

internet australia regulations