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Australian authorities say they can detect dark net transactions.
We know this because the nation's Border Force (ABF), the black-shirt wearing guardians of Australia's frontiers, says as much in its takedown notice of a "31-year-old man from Port Neill" in the State of South Australia. Said man fell foul of a joint ABF and South Australia Police (SAPOL) operation that "linked him to the importation and distribution of numerous border controlled drugs via the dark net."
"We are well aware of these websites and take any attempts to import illegal border controlled drugs very seriously," said Craig Palmer, the ABF's acting commander for immigration and customs enforcement. "
[...] The ABF hasn't previously publicised arrests made as a result of dark net activities, but early in 2016 advertised for workers with information security skills. Perhaps those hires' feet are well and truly under the desk? ®
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Thexalon on Monday September 26 2016, @02:33PM
It might not get the cops to back off, especially if they're guilty of something serious. But it is true that regardless of whether the cops will back off, the basic strategy for handling police, at least when white, is:
1. Do not consent to any searches if they ask you.
2. Do not attempt to flee or resist arrest.
3. Announce immediately that you are invoking your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and will need to call your lawyer.
If you're not white, then I don't know how to advise you, because whether or not you do everything the cops tell you to do, you still might get shot.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Monday September 26 2016, @02:55PM
From a legal standpoint, invoking the 5th is absolutely the best strategy.
From a practical standpoint, I was traffic stopped in west-bohinkus and the officer clearly wanted to give me the once over. We chatted for about 5 minutes (seemed like 45), and he asked to search the car, nicely. I obliged. He liked what he saw, and didn't see, and I was on my way with a smile, wave and "don't do that around here again."
Without the friendly demeanor, he could have searched my car anyway, planted whatever he wanted to find while searching, and kept me tied up in west-bohinkus court with my word against his for months - final outcome being anybody's guess, but remember that he and the judge play poker on Tuesday nights, and their sons are on the same Little League team. Appeals to higher courts take months to years, and the suspect remains in custody during the proceedings.
Rights and Justice are grand academic concepts. If you're already "in the legal system" anyway, plead the 5th, make your best case. If you can avoid getting thrown into the system in the first place, even if it means giving up some of your rights, it's a better outcome.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Thexalon on Monday September 26 2016, @05:00PM
So here's the problem with that thinking: Let's say that instead of a good cop, you're talking to a bad cop you don't realize is a bad cop.
Now, if you consent to the search, the cop "finds" cocaine that he just happened to have on hand (which will boost his own arrest numbers and help him get promoted), and instead of being on your way with a smile and a verbal warning you are on your way to a couple of years in the slammer and a drug conviction on your record that makes it near-impossible for you to get a job ever again.
Whereas if you don't consent to the search, and the cop searches your car anyways (illegally), and "finds" that same cocaine, the dashcam/bodycam footage now shows that the search was illegal in the first place, and the case will be tossed out. Oh, and if the cop wants you to wait for a drug dog to come by and false-alert on your vehicle, you should now bust out the other important phrase "Am I being detained or am I free to go?"
Sure, spending a couple of days in jail in west-bohinkus isn't what you want to be doing, but make no mistake, you took a big risk in allowing the search, even though you were completely innocent.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Monday September 26 2016, @05:45PM
You think there's a dashcam/bodycam in west-bohinkus? You think that even if there is, that it is functional? You think that even if it is functional, that the important footage will ever in a million years find its way to a defense attorney?
There's right and legal, and there's how it works in west-bohinkus (which includes many major metropolitan areas).
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday September 26 2016, @03:00PM
By maintaining the silent treatment, I'm including all of the time you are in cuffs until you are released, and obviously the basic "I do not consent to a search" and "am I free to go?" don't count.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 26 2016, @03:10PM
It is not illegal to flee. You can't be convicted for it unless they have a reason to hold you. Say "Am I being held" if they say yes then politely ask why. Although if you are black they may just shoot you.
I point them in the direction of the nearest mosque with a suggestion to start looking for evil there