Privacy concerns hold up Australia e-security code

In Australia, the finishing touches to an e-security code of conduct designed to prevent compromised computers, also called 'zombies', from accessing the internet is being delayed, following concerns flagged by Australia's privacy commissioner.

It aims to make formal existing voluntary security arrangements that ISPs currently follow under a scheme run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), according to Internet Industry Association chief executive Peter Coroneos. The scheme sees ISPs receive daily reports from the ACMA which the providers can then, voluntarily, use to alert customers.

However, this formalisation was slowed by privacy concerns that were flagged in a public consultation of the draft code, a process which began in September.

For more on this story, see Privacy Commissioner delays zombie code on ZDNet Australia.