australia encryption radio
Laws surrounding publicly (ish) displaying decoded messages received over radio
<p>POCSAG512, POCSAG1200 and POCSAG2400 is the protocol used by pagers to transmit information to one another. The problem I'm seeing here is that it is <strong>not encrypted, only encoded, as any broadcast has to be to be broadcast in the first place.</strong></p>

<p>I decided to build a simple web page that decodes and displays local pager POCSAG transmissions I can pick up (with my $30 of radio receiving equipment and a linux vm) as a show of just how insecure it it. </p>

<p>However, it just <em>feels illegal.</em></p>

<p>There is stuff here that says it is confidential, and shouldn't be shared. Considering it is a public broadcast that is <strong>not encrypted,</strong> how is it dissimilar to just yelling, in a public place, "What I'm about to say is confidential and should not be heard by anyone".</p>

<p>Any heads up or pointers? I've already brought this up with a friend of mine studying to be a lawyer, and he gave me an all-encompassing <em>shrug</em>.</p>

<p>(Also I'm Australian)</p>

<h2>It is Illegal</h2>
<p>Specifically, it is in breach of <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/taaa1979410/s7.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">s7</a> of the TELECOMMUNICATIONS (INTERCEPTION AND ACCESS) ACT 1979:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(1)  A person shall not:</p>
<p>(a)  intercept;</p>
<p>(b)  authorize, suffer or permit another person to intercept; or</p>
<p>(c)  do any act or thing that will enable him or her or another person to intercept;</p>
<p>a communication passing over a telecommunications system.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&quot;Telecommunications system&quot; is a &quot;telecommunications network&quot; within Australia and a &quot;telecommunications network&quot; is &quot;a system, or series of systems, for carrying communications by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy or both, but does not include a system, or series of systems, for carrying communications solely by means of radiocommunication.&quot;</p>
<p>Now, you might think that because the pager message is transmitted by &quot;radiocommunication&quot; its not a &quot;telecommunications network&quot;, however, the key word here is &quot;solely&quot; - the initiation of the pager message happens through the telephone system so the message is not sent &quot;solely by means of radiocommunication.&quot;</p>
<p>You are free to intercept (and decrypt) as much radio traffic as you like providing that it is initiated at a radio transmitter and terminates at a radio receiver (like CB radio or broadcast radio) - if it touches a telecommunications network its off limits.</p>
<p>The criminal punishment is imprisonment for up to 2 years, &quot;aggrieved persons&quot; can also seek civil remedies.</p>
