this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2026
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Surveillance State. NSW Police to seize mobile phone data without a warrant (michaelwest.com.au)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by MalReynolds@slrpnk.net to c/privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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So this is super sucky and likely to spread. Alternate source. Key points, at roadside stops etc, people are required to give access to their phones using Cellebrite Israeli phone crackers, likely to download a complete image. No limits placed on data retention, no noted protection against Cellebrite having unfettered access.

Has it gotten to the point where we should be striving to keep only a minimum viable configuration on phones and have some sort of searchable backup on a home server, or even an out of country VPS? Anyone got any suggestions on how to achieve this?

Having GrapheneOS doesn't help much when it's a ten year felony to refuse access. AFAIK it's still a warrant to get access to your home computer, for now.

This may get shot down in the courts, but that won't help much if it happens to you in the meantime, this stuff is forever. The right to digital privacy has the price of eternal vigilence, but they just keep raising the bar on how onerous that vigilence is.

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[–] artyom@piefed.social 16 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Having GrapheneOS doesn't help much when it's a ten year felony to refuse access

It's my interpretation that "access" means you have to give them your phone physically. Otherwise Cellebrite wouldn't be needed

people are required to give access to their phones using Cellebrite Israeli phone crackers

We know Cellebrite can't crack GrapheneOS.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

We know Cellebrite can’t crack GrapheneOS.

Yah, one of the reasons gOS is hated and I have it :) but you know Cellebrite is looking for that zero day. Still an issue for the other 99.9%.

It’s my interpretation that “access” means you have to give them your phone physically. Otherwise Cellebrite wouldn’t be needed

Your lips to gods ears... But until it's clarified legally the pessimistic interpretation is you have to unlock it (otherwise impeding an investigation or some shit) and then they use Cellebrite to suck it dry.

[–] minty@aussie.zone 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

God I hate labor right so fucking much and I hate how much labor left enables them

[–] TheFermentalist@reddthat.com 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Exactly. How the fuck is this a left wing policy? What the fuck is the “left” faction doing enabling the enforcers of a fascist state?

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Labor are neoliberals, first and foremost. They've made that abundantly clear most of my adult life. They're only left of unapologetic fascism, but these criminally corrupt, treasonous, crimes against humanity prove the difference is superficial.

We live in capitalist dictatorships masquerading as "democracy". Every business is an oligarchy/plutocracy, and all major political parties reflect their profit motives. They used their capital to "seize the means of democracy".

[–] minty@aussie.zone 8 points 2 days ago

Honestly I believe they dont think how it could be used against them. There's also a tendency to compromise too much and be defensive which ofc just accelerates the decline

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Also note that it's stated to be already the case in QLD, VIC, although details are unclear.

Not a peep from mainstream media AFAICT.

[–] minty@aussie.zone 1 points 2 days ago

Honestly didnt know that. I do need to keep ontop of these things but as you said mainstream media dont say much on it

[–] far_university1990@reddthat.com 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What if run android vm at home and stream to phone only, no data on there? Or every app launch through ssh with something like xpipe/waypipe/wprs? Basically put real phone at home and only carry thin client.

If no data to extract what they do?

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Interesting, might be an option. Likely Cellebrite can pull your ssh key though, but OTP or something plus kill switch, maybe. Worth thinking about.

[–] far_university1990@reddthat.com 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Two factor ssh (likely two hop, one key one password). And could take down server remotely before control and claim "my homeserver very unstable".

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 days ago

Yeah, something like that. Damn shame we even have to consider it though.

[–] emmanuel_car@fedia.io 6 points 2 days ago

Great job. I wonder if this passes, if NSW police will celebrate by strip searching more kids at central station.

[–] shartgargle@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wait, like every rest stop you go to will have a cop waiting there for you, to check your phone. Like in a line?

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Nah, pulled over for speeding or something, random breath tests, etc.

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 day ago

What the fuck

[–] shartgargle@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

That's fucked up. Do you not have "probable cause" in Australia?

[–] feannag@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

I guess its time to wipe phones at every roadside stop. Hope the backup works!

[–] Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

This is a bit of a tangent, but I'm quite surprised that people are still prepared to say some things online, given almost everything is likely captured by the (AI based) surveillance panopticon. Everything you say online can and will be used against you and it's honestly best to assume you are not anonymous online. Maybe right now you are, but as the technology evolves, I think it's a fair assumption that plenty will be de-anonymised.

For example, when criticising certain countries, I would personally avoid using any language which can be deliberately misconstrued. To be clear, I'm not arguing that anyone should censor what they say, but I would certainly advise everyone to be careful about how they say it. Eg. death to organisation X, when you can convey the exact same sentiment by saying it should be dismantled, is illegal, etc.

This is not to say we shouldn't still fight or accept that this is now the world works, but simply me saying I have personally decided to be more careful about how I say things, so that I don't make it too easy for the surveillance state. Don't want to get fucked over 10 years down the line. This is why, although I know people find it annoying when people do the tiktok self-censor, I honestly can't entirely blame their clumsy attempts at censorship evasion.

Then again, maybe I'm being naive, and simply posting in some of the same places as people who are more outspoken, will be enough to land me on a list. One silver lining of online age checks; the powers that be are likely to assume that VPN usage is porn related.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If an authoritarian regime doesn't like you, it doesn't matter what you say. You can "be careful" all you like, and they will find other spurious reasons to abuse you (such as accent, parentage, skin color, sexual orientation, etc.). It might change who they go after first, but operating within their guidelines is not some guarantee of safety.

No, your best bet is to be loud, proud, and to join with others and tear down the system that enables this kind of abuse. We do not need to accept this as inevitable.

[–] Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I get where you're coming from, and that it's no guarantee of safety, but less obvious resistance like malicious compliance, strategic incompetence, 'accidents', and 'everyday resistance' can be a very effective strategy.

As you yourself say, it may change who they go after first, allowing you to fly under the radar longer and fight longer while undetected. Then again, letting people know they're not alone, is also important. So being loud also has its merits.

Of course, I would never be too concrete about all this on the internet, for obvious reasons. I'm also not stopping anyone who wants to take a more brazen route. In some cases, when some campaigns go viral, it has also been effective.

Put simply, there are advantages to appearing unthreatening, stupid, and boring.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Put simply, there are advantages to appearing unthreatening, stupid, and boring.

I agree, but anyone with the same notion should ask themselves: are you appearing to be all those things, or are you just trying to convince yourself that you're more than that? Because unless you're actually doing something useful in secret, I submit that you're actually just unthreatening, stupid, and/or boring.

And to be clear, I'm using a royal "you," not directing that at any one person.

[–] Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Agreed.

Of course, being openly critical online without actually doing much else, is also not necessarily particularly productive.

For example, those who openly oppose the Russian government, are often managed or controlled. Whether knowingly or unwittingly, they help further the ruling regime's political aims. Even abroad, supposed enemies of the Kremlin happily advocate the annexation of neighbouring countries or espouse Russian cultural superiority. Their loud pronouncements to the contrary mean nothing.

A lot of of people protesting loudly are doing so to appear as if (or convince themselves) they're doing something.

For example:

  • going on social media and calling Vladimir Putin names, is far less effective than donating to the Ukrainian army and suggesting others do so too.

  • complaining about the erosion of freedoms and privacy on a social medium owned by a literal fascist, is far less effective than sharing alternatives to google, inviting them to the fediverse, helping people switch to linux, sharing DIY tips on how to use a buzzsaw or angle grinder, etc.

  • complaining about capitalism online or watching anti-capitalist tiktoks interspersed with ads, is arguably far less damaging to oligarchy than giving people tips on how to use a VPN or torrent a linux distro.

In any case, as I mentioned in my earlier comment, I was simply referring to my being careful how I say things online, without necessarily censoring what I say. I think it's fair to say we rely far too much on corporate owned and/or surveilled media. Far better to join a local group or organise in your community. There it's far safer to be open than on a public and surveilled internet forum

[–] eronth@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I still say the things so people know they aren't alone in their thoughts. They aren't the crazy ones to think it.

[–] Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

As I said above, I'm not arguing anyone should censor what they say, simply think about how they say it.

But your point does deserve to be emphasised.