Big Tech Fights Bill That May See Govt Security Installed on Their Systems
Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have unanimously fought to amend a proposed bill that could allow the Australian government to implant its own cybersecurity software onto the back of the big tech’s cloud systems.
The Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 (pdf) seeks to build on existing legislation to fortify Australia’s critical infrastructure against cyber attacks, with the inclusion of cloud services in the list prompting tech giants to raise serious privacy concerns.
The measures come amid mounting anxiety regarding the potential impact of a cyberattack on the nation’s arterial sectors including energy, health, and food many of which have already experienced such incidents since the start of the year.