Posted.
April 24, 2020 05: 55:35
Government insiders and technology market gamers have actually raised alarms about the Federal Government’s new COVID-19 tracing app, after a contract for its data storage went offshore to United States retail and technology huge Amazon.
Bottom line:
- The Federal Government states the app will help it track and trace the coronavirus spread in Australia
- Issues are raised that Australians’ data will be hosted US by tech huge Amazon
- Information held by US-registered companies can be accessed by United States police
Bureaucrats inside the Government’s Digital Transformation Agency voiced concerns about the awarding of the contract to an abroad supplier when a number of wholly Australian-owned cloud storage services have actually been security vetted for exactly such high-level agreements.
The ABC has likewise validated the tender was a minimal, invitation-only opportunity initially run by the Department of House Affairs, which is principally responsible for border security and nationwide security.
Issuing the agreement to Amazon might also suggest the Australian information is obtainable by US police under a 2018 law that enables them to acquire info held by US-registered data business no matter where on the planet that information is held.
That stands in contrast to guarantees offered by Attorney-General Christian Porter on Wednesday that he would avoid Australia