Australian government puts off plans to store metadata
The metadata to be collected by the companies was said to help fight criminal activity.
The Australian government has temporarily abandoned plans that would have forced Internet and telephone data to be stored for up to two years, following an enquiry by the parliament which did not wish to go ahead with it.
When the parliament committee raised concerns about it, the Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said more work was needed. Dreyfus in a statement: "The government will not pursue a mandatory data retention regime at this time and will await further advice from the departments and relevant agencies and comprehensive consultation." The metadata to be collected by the companies was said to help fight criminal activity. The committee, meanwhile, recommended that unfettered access should not be allowed.
