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Telstra received 3,000 more warrantless access requests in the first six months of this year than in the previous six. Photograph: JOERG SARBACH/AP
Telstra received 3,000 more warrantless access requests in the first six months of this year than in the previous six. Photograph: JOERG SARBACH/AP

Data retention: Telstra reports jump in access requests by government

This article is more than 9 years old

State and federal agencies ask for growing number of private phone, internet and email logs without a warrant

Government requests to Telstra for warrantless access to Australians’ phone, internet and email logs jumped by 3,000 in the past six months, the company’s latest transparency report reveals.

The report comes as the federal government pushes for a mandatory data retention scheme to force telecommunications companies to retain personal data from phone and web users.

Telstra received 39,395 access requests from Australian government agencies from January to June 2014, up from 36,053 for the previous six months. International agencies also requested access to the personal data of “less than 100” Australians over the past 12 months, according to the report.

Under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 local, state and federal government agencies can request personal data from telecommunications companies without a warrant. The content cannot be disclosed but records of who, when or where a person communicated with another can be requested.

“These records include information such as details of a called party and the date, time and duration of a call,” Telstra posted on their website.

“Internet session information includes the date, time and duration of internet sessions as well as email logs from Bigpond addresses.”

The company stressed that web histories were not disclosed.

“The government has stated URLs are considered to be content and as such they will only request to access this information under a warrant or other court order.”

Australian telecommunications providers began publishing transparency reports earlier this year amid growing concerns over the role companies play in responding to government requests for information.

More on this story

More on this story

  • Data retention critics alarmed by Australian federal police breach

  • Federal police mistakenly publish metadata from criminal investigations

  • Web browsing history would not be included in data retention scheme

  • Asio and federal police seek to clear up confusion over metadata collection

  • George Brandis concedes website visits will be saved for two years

  • You want my metadata, George Brandis? Get a warrant

  • Data retention proposal revealed to media before cabinet

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