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from the learn-anything-on-the-interwebz dept.
Australian Broadcast Corporation reports
Haisem Zahab, an Australian citizen, is alleged to have been researching how to develop laser missile detection equipment for IS and helping the extremists develop their own destructive missile arsenal.
...
"We will allege he has utilised the internet to perform services for ISIL," Commissioner Colvin said."Firstly, by researching and designing a laser warning device to help warn against incoming guiding munitions used by coalition forces in Syria and Iraq.
"Secondly, we will also allege that he has been researching, designing and modelling systems to assist ISIL's efforts to develop their own long-range guided missile capabilities."
...
Commissioner Colvin said Zahab, who is a trained electrician, had conducted "fairly sophisticated" research.
Mmm...aybe it is indeed a good time for Australia to kickstart its own space agency? I mean, look, if a trained electrician living outback manages to conduct a credible "fairly sophisticated research", perhaps the tech potential is quite high downunder.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 28 2017, @09:23PM
Understandable, and why I'm interested to see the evidence. If all they have is thought crime due to researching things THEY deem questionable, then the authorities should put their big boy pants back on and start acting like adults. They'd better have concrete evidence that the guy knew he was working for ISIL and was NOT misguided into thinking he was making a detection system to protect civilians from an imminent bomb threat. Bombs on the ground, terrorism. Bombs in the sky, bringing freedom. Civilian casualties from ground bombs, terrorist animal scum. Civilian casualties from sky bombs? Regrettable casualties of war, paired with blaming the village for the presence of enemies.
Personally this sounds more like a way to make searching everyone's internet activity OK in the minds of the people, along with building cases based on "suspicious internet activity". Its the same old quote we hear, but seems applicable here:
One of the problems with defending free speech is you often have to defend people that you find to be outrageous and unpleasant and disgusting. -Salman Rushdie
So do we defend all people from outrageous "thought crime" policies? As we all know, there may be good reasons to pass such legislation (catch the bad guys!) but the chilling long term effects are often much worse than the benefits.