Broader powers should come with proper safeguards.

PRIVACY might seem a rather quaint concept in our digital age, in which the new technologies have enabled the personal lives of ordinary people to be broadcast to a global audience. Still, most Australians would be a little wary of the prospect of the nation's intelligence agencies spying on their activities online or retracing their electronic footprints years after the fact. For this reason, the more than 40 proposals that would see a significant expansion of the powers of the nation's intelligence and security agencies require close scrutiny. As is always the case with such reforms, a sound balance must be struck between the agencies' operational efficacy and the protection of human rights and civil liberties.

The proposals are contained in a discussion paper released by Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, ahead of a review, which will include public submissions, by the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence security. They flag changes to laws governing Australia's six intelligence agencies, which include ASIO, ASIS and the Defence Signals Directorate.

Under the proposed changes, all Australian telecommunications companies would have to retain customers' telephone and internet data for up to two years, and ASIO would be given super warrants to target a person's computer, telephone and internet service all in one. Australia's foreign intelligence services, ASIS and DSD, would be explicitly authorised to spy on Australians overseas, including on the new and perhaps somewhat nebulous ground that the person is thought to be involved in ''intelligence or counter-intelligence activities''. Officers from ASIO would be allowed to commit crimes when undercover: the paper does envisage ''independent review'' of any scheme involving such conduct, albeit only after it has been running for five years. Otherwise, ASIO would be able to obtain search warrants more easily, with their duration extended from 90 days to six months.

The agencies say they need to increase capabilities to keep one step ahead of organised criminals and terrorists, who have ever more sophisticated technology at their disposal. That intelligence agencies invariably insist their powers ought to be greater because the enemy is getting smarter doesn't mean the argument is invalid on every occasion.