The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020. The bill review was referred to the Committee by the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Home Affairs.

The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020 will amend the Surveillance Devices Act 2004, the Crimes Act 1914 and associated legislation to introduce new law enforcement powers and warrants to enhance the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)'s ability to combat cyber-enabled serious and organised crime, including online child exploitation.

The Bill introduces:

• a data disruption warrant which enables the AFP and the ACIC to access data on one or more computers and perform disruption activities for the purpose of frustrating the commission of criminal activity;
• a network activity warrant to enable the AFP and the ACIC to collect intelligence on criminal networks operating online;
• an account takeover warrant to allow AFP and the ACIC to takeover a person's online account the purposes of gathering evidence of criminal activity, and;
• minor amendments to the controlled operations regime, to ensure controlled operations can be conducted effectively in the online environment.

Making a submission
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all aspects of the Bill. Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the inquiry must be prepared solely for this purpose and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee. Submissions are requested by Friday 12 February 2021. Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at www.aph.gov.au/makesubmission.