AFP calls for more access to metadata to snare criminals

The Australian Federal Police is calling for more powers to monitor phone and internet data from ordinary Australians, saying a lack of access is letting criminals slip through the cracks.

The AFP's Tim Morris says authorities have been easily retrieving metadata since the agency was first established but the amount of electronic information is now exploding.

Metadata is the information showing who contacted whom, from where and for how long but not the content of the correspondence.

"Companies aren't keeping this data necessarily or if they are keeping it, they're keeping it for inconsistent periods of time," Mr Morris said.

"If law enforcement is going to have a chance of keeping up with evolving criminality, then we believe we have to have access to this kind of data; it's absolutely essential," he said.

more: AFP calls for more access to metadata to snare criminals

The Australian Federal Police is calling for more powers to monitor phone and internet data from ordinary Australians, saying a lack of access is letting criminals slip through the cracks.

The AFP's Tim Morris says authorities have been easily retrieving metadata since the agency was first established but the amount of electronic information is now exploding.

Metadata is the information showing who contacted whom, from where and for how long but not the content of the correspondence.

"Companies aren't keeping this data necessarily or if they are keeping it, they're keeping it for inconsistent periods of time," Mr Morris said.

"If law enforcement is going to have a chance of keeping up with evolving criminality, then we believe we have to have access to this kind of data; it's absolutely essential," he said.