ZDNet reports the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police used Australia’s encryption laws seven times in 2018 and 2019, according to the "Telecommunications (Interception And Access) Act 1979 – Annual Report 2018-19." The seven instances were Technical Assistance Requests, voluntary requests for communications providers to access user communications. The annual report also said the cost of complying with a law mandating telecommunications companies retain customer data for two years for law enforcement access has topped AU$229 million. “Law enforcement agencies made 565 arrests, conducted 884 proceedings, and obtained 280 convictions based on evidence obtained under stored communications warrants,” the report states.
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