Australia plans law for tech firms to hand over encrypted private data

If the law is passed, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, may be forced to reveal their encrypted data when asked by the police.

Australia proposed a new law requiring technology firms such as Alphabet Inc’s Google, Facebook and Apple to give police access to private encrypted data linked to suspected illegal activities.

The measure, which targets platforms the Australian government says could be used for criminal activities or to plan a terror attack, would require police to get a court warrant to access the encrypted data.