The Wire

The modern mobile phone may be capable of everything from taking pictures to playing music but proposed amendments to telecommunication legislation could see it take on more intrusive functions. According to the Law Council of Australia, legal changes could see national security and law enforcement agencies use mobile phones as tracking devices. The unprecedented powers would allow the agencies to collect data such as the source and destination of mobile phone calls without requiring a warrant. While warrants would still have to be obtained to access the details of the communication, civil liberties group Electronic Frontiers Australia believes the system may be open to abuse.