Google is under investigation in Australia following claims that it collects data from millions of Android smartphone users, who unwittingly pay their telecom service providers for gigabytes consumed by the activity, regulators said on Tuesday.

Responding to the latest privacy concerns surrounding Google, a spokesman for the U.S. based search engine operator said the company has users’ permission to collect data. “Any charges for transmission of data over a cellular connection, including any location-related data, would be governed by a user’s mobile carrier plan,” Google said in a statement. 

A darknet trader is illegally selling the Medicare patient details of any Australian on request by “exploiting a vulnerability” in a government system, raising concerns that a health agency may be seriously compromised.

An investigation can reveal that a darknet vendor on a popular auction site for illegal products claims to have access to any Australian’s Medicare card details. The seller is using a Australian Department of Human Services logo to advertise their services, which they dub “the Medicare machine”. Medicare card details are not publicly available. They are valuable to organised crime groups, because they allow them to produce fake physical Medicare cards.

Those convicted of domestic violence offences in Australia may have to wear GPS tracking ankle bracelets if an initiative by the Australian government goes ahead. The devices will monitor the movements of repeat offenders who pose a risk to their partners, children and other family members. 

The government will take the proposal to the Council of Australian Governments for consideration by Australia's states and territories. Parliamentary research into domestic violence in Australia in 2014 found the issue was widespread. GPS tracking will work for those who have a criminal history.

The personal details of the world's leading political figures were leaked to the organisers of a soccer tournament late last year, in a major data breach caused by an email autofill error.

The breach was caused by a staff member at Australia's Department of Immigration. Details about the leak are just emerging, however, thanks to internal emails. With mandatory data retention already facing opposition from legal experts, media groups, civil liberties advocates and the Australian public, this latest breach has the potential to raise further privacy concerns and questions about the security of data storage in Australia.

Australia’s lower house of parliament has passed the first in a series of counter-terrorism amendments toughening the country’s national security law. The new legislation could see journalists jailed for reporting on related matters.

National Security Amendments Bill says a person who discloses information relating to a special intelligence operation may face from five to 10 years behind bars. Copying, transcribing or retaining records of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is also outlawed, which is seen as a measure taken in the wake of Edward Snowden’s leaks of documents on the US’s National Security Agency.

Law enforcement in Australia obtains data about subscribers, their actions and destination from cell towers.

Law enforcement agencies force telephone providers to accumulate personal information on all the subscribers without exception. It means that firms can use technology, called "tower dump". It allows federal law enforcement agencies to receive information about any personality within 1-2 hours, her actions and location from any phone, which is connected to certain telephone towers. Mobile providers and telephone towers are under the influence of "tower dump".

Several users of Apple devices in Australia have reported that their gadgets have been "hijacked" - with a message demanding money. Experts believed the hack had targeted users by exploiting the Find my iPhone feature.

A message appeared on some targeted phones asking for "$100 USD/EUR" to be sent to a PayPal account. Networks advised affected users to contact Apple, which denied its cloud storage service had been breached. "Apple takes security very seriously and iCloud was not compromised during this incident. Impacted users should change their Apple ID password as soon as possible and avoid using the same user name and password for multiple services," the firm said.

In 2008 Australian intelligence agencies offered to share the confidential information about Australians with the U.S. It was reported by the Australian edition of The Guardian newspaper, referring to the new documents submitted by Edward Snowden.

According to the newspaper, it is a previously unknown cooperation page of the five countries intelligence that makes up the so-called Group of Five Eyes (“Five Eyes”). Besides the U.S. and Australia, it includes Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand. As it was previously reported, the purpose of the contract of Five Eyes is not only spying on terrorists, its main task is to collect political, diplomatic and economic information.