AFP illegally accessed journalist’s phone records under new metadata laws

The Australian Federal Police has admitted a member of its staff illegally accessed and viewed a journalist’s phone records as part of an investigation.

A statement from the AFP said in the process of an investigation, a member of the AFP accessed the call charge records and telecommunications data of a journalist without a Journalist Information Warrant, which is required by the Telecommunications (Interceptions and Access) Act 1979.

AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin said the breach was uncovered as part of a routine review of the case by a senior officer, after which an independent internal review was launched.

“Once the breach was confirmed, immediate steps were taken to mitigate the effects of the breach and to ensure this was an isolated incident. All relevant records in the AFP’s possession were destroyed and no investigative activities were undertaken as a result of the telecommunications data obtained from the journalist’s records,” Colvin said in a statement.