Firms 'blacklisting' Australia over encryption laws, government contractor says

Makes me wonder what the intelligence agencies themselves think about these developments. It sounds like it may be counter productive for them, if it means that no local business with which to pressure are even operating, because they've been forced out of business by cost of compliance. That's a separate issue even from having privacy conscious consumers completely overlooking them.

I wish our voting populous was more politically astute... Time and time again, we prove that we're unable to do anything to stand out in any way that makes us a first choice in anything. Our education system isn't well regarded at all. The way things are going, being designed in China will be a sign of greater reliability and trust than Australia. It isn't like individuals aren't capable, just somehow, it isn't valued, so it doesn't happen. Any time we get something that works half decent, we're somehow thankful and relieved to have something above average for once.

Maybe our intelligence agencies should be rethinking their internal missions. You know, so they actually have something worth protecting. They should be uniquely positioned to have a good view of the sociological factors which make up our society. That's part of their job. Sure as hell not going to get a politician pull their weight.

> companies ... "should have confidence that the legislation does not, or indeed cannot, undermine the security of products and devices," the department said.

How they can say that with a straight face is astonishing to me. Of _course_ it undermines the security: that is the exact purpose of the law.

Good. This has to hurt them in quite a major way before anything will be done about it. From my (possibly ignorant) perspective, the Australian government is a bunch of corrupt coal-industry loving dinosaurs who do not understand the first thing about tech and won't care about anything until it hurts their bottom line.

The only sane response possible to this insanity.