15 h. ago Australian government agencies could be customers of Israeli spyware, research suggests

While it is unknown if any Australians have been targeted, the military-grade program from Paragon Solutions provides full access to encrypted messaging appsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian government agencies could be customers of military-grade spyware from Israeli firm Paragon Solutions, a new report suggests.In January, Meta revealed more than 90 people, including journalists, had their WhatsApp compromised by the software, although it is unknown if any Australians were targeted.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Ontario’s police force using ‘growing ecosystem’ of Israeli spyware – report

Findings raise questions about extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyberweaponsResearchers have uncovered “possible links” between Ontario’s provincial police force and an Israel-based military-grade spyware maker called Paragon Solutions, raising questions about the extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyber weapons.The new findings were published by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which tracks and identifies digital threats against civil society, and come three years after a parliamentary committee in Canada called for Ottawa to update the country’s privacy laws in the wake of press reports that the national police force was using spyware to hack mobile phone devices. No laws were ever passed to address the controversy. Continue reading...

Events

41 h. ago Ontario’s provincial police force could be using Israeli spyware, report finds

Report on ‘possible links’ raises questions about extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyber weaponsResearchers have uncovered “possible links” between Ontario’s provincial police force and an Israel-based military-grade spyware maker called Paragon Solutions, raising questions about the extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyber weapons.The new findings were published by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which tracks and identifies digital threats against civil society, and come three years after a parliamentary committee in Canada called for Ottawa to update the country’s privacy laws in the wake of press reports that the national police force was using spyware to hack mobile phone devices. No laws were ever passed to address the controversy. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago US influencer who sparked outrage after snatching baby wombat flees Australia

Sam Jones quietly departed on Friday as the Australian government began reviewing her visa status

Politics

1 week ago A Sydney caravan laden with explosives was a ‘fake terrorism plot’. Here’s what we know

Police say they believed soon after the caravan’s discovery in January that it was a ‘con job’, alleging it was fabricated by criminals for personal benefitFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe discovery of a caravan packed with explosives earlier this year led to concerns about a possible terrorism attack, criticism of the police and media, and a fierce political debate about the federal government’s response to antisemitism.On Monday, Australian police said the caravan was part of a “fake terrorism plot” allegedly orchestrated by organised criminals for personal gain. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Extra 220 children may have been wrongly detained as adult people smugglers in Australia, government admits

In 2023 the federal court ordered $27.5m compensation for an initial estimated 220 Indonesian minors wrongly detained – but that number has now doubledFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has revealed that a further 220 Indonesian children may have been wrongly detained as adult people smugglers, doubling the number initially thought.Late in 2023 the federal court ordered $27.5m in compensation for an estimated 220 Indonesian children who were wrongly detained as adult people smugglers between 2010 and 2012.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Australian citizen detained 32 times at Sydney airport accuses border force of systemic racism

Hubert Igbinoba, who is suing the Australian government, says he is singled out because he is black – a claim the government deniesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian citizen detained 32 times at Sydney airport – without allegation or charge – has told the federal circuit court he is stopped and searched almost every time he enters the country because he is black.Okungbowa Hubert Igbinoba also told a directions hearing on Tuesday that an $80,000 settlement offer from the government was an attempt to silence him.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Australia should repatriate and investigate alleged crimes of Islamic state member found in Syria, experts say

Exclusive: Home Affairs tells the Guardian consular assistance is ‘severely limited’ in Syria, where Mustafa Hajj-Obeid remains in custodyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government should repatriate, monitor and investigate any crimes committed by a member of Islamic State who was wounded in the extremist group’s final battle, according to multiple security and international law experts.Last week, the Guardian revealed an Australian man whose fate was not publicly known was alive and in custody in a prison in north-eastern Syria, run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump removes Ice chief amid apparent frustration over rate of deportations

Caleb Vitello reassigned as administration reportedly unhappy at slow rate of arrests and deportationsDonald Trump’s presidential administration has reassigned its top official at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) after the agency’s arrests and deportations have been slower than expected, Reuters reported, citing a senior administration official and two other sources familiar with the matter.The official, Caleb Vitello, was in the role in an acting capacity and had been grappling with pressure to step up enforcement after other top Ice officials were reassigned days earlier. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Journalists launch legal action against Italian government over spyware claims

Union submits criminal complaint to prosecutors as ministers refuse to answer questions about alleged hacksItaly’s national union for journalists has submitted a criminal complaint to prosecutors in Rome after Giorgia Meloni’s government shut down questions in parliament over suspicions it had illegally used spyware technology to hack the phones of critics instead of criminals.The legal action on Wednesday was triggered by the absence of clarity from the government since revelations emerged in late January that a migrant activist and Francesco Cancellato, an investigative journalist, were among at least seven people in Italy whose mobile phones had been targeted by an entity using Graphite, a military-grade spyware produced by the Israel-based Paragon, which is intended for use on criminals. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago DOGE claimed they had saved $8 billion by slashing one contract. The actual number was $8 million

DOGE, upon further inspection, appears to have overstated the value of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency contract

Economics

4 w. ago Australian spy boss says 3 foreign governments plotted to harm people in Australia

An Australian security boss says his spy agency has discovered three foreign governments plotting to physically harm people living in Australia

Politics