Cyber industry probes economic impact of crypto bill

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI’s)  International Cyber Policy Centre has joined with Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (AustCyber) to assess the impact of the Assistance and Access bill.

As iTnews readers will by now appreciate, the Bill suggests powers to compel technology companies to provide access to data their products and services manage or transmit, but has been met with criticism such access is not possible without introducing systemic weaknesss.

While mindful of that criticism, The Institute and the Network have not taken a position opposing the bill but are interested to learn how industry feels it could impact their prospects.

The ASPI survey on the bill, which is supported by AustCyber, therefore asks questions about impact of the bill on export and domestic business prospects, concerns about the bill and whether customers or others stakeholders have raised issues regarding the proposed legislation.

While AustCyber is government-funded, Chief of Strategy Belinda Newham told iTnews she sees the survey as in line with its mission to grow a local cyber-security industry.

“We are not trying to surprise or undermine,” she said. “We just really want to understand any impact on sector’s competitiveness.”

“We are not sure if there is a perception issue – if the bill has been communicated well – or if there is a need for concern,” Newham said. We want to get a sense of how broadly those concerns are held.”

“Going forward our aim is to support our industry with whatever form the legislation takes. That could be advocating for ways industry can feel more comfortable with the law.”