RantCrush Top 5: April 28, 2017

An investigator with the Australian federal police accessed the phone records of a journalist who had received leaked information without first obtaining a warrant, the AFP commissioner admitted on Friday. This reportedly happened while the agency was investigating a police leak. Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the journalist has not been informed of what has happened and might never be, even after the investigation concludes. “I am trying to be as open and transparent as we can,” he said, adding that the information has already been deleted.

1. The nations top police force accessed journalists metadata illegally
2. Then destroyed the evidence
3. Didn’t tell the journalist.

— Eryk Bagshaw (@ErykBagshaw) April 28, 2017

This was made possible by the new metadata laws that were introduced in March 2015. The laws force internet providers and communication companies in Australia to store customers’ personal data, like browsing history and phone records, for at least two years. It was meant to fight terrorism and help law enforcement, but now a lot of people are upset that the authority was misused to look into a journalist’s sources.

Why are the coppers chasing leaks to journos, this was supposed to be about national security, terror plots etc. @AFPCommissioner

— Phillip Coorey (@PhillipCoorey) April 28, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.