AUSTRALIA'S ENCRYPTED DATA LAW?

TECH GIANTS allied against proposed Australia law seeking encrypted data.

FOUR GLOBAL tech giants : Facebook, Apple, Alphabet and Amazon - will oppose an Australian law that would require them to provide access to private encrypted data linked to suspected illegal activities, an industry lobby group said on Wednesday.

Australia in August proposed fines of up to  A$10 million [$7.2 million]  for institutions and prison terms for individuals who do not comply with a court request to give  authorities access to private data.

The government has said  the proposed law is needed amid a heightened risk of terror attacks.

Seen as test case as other regions explore similar laws, Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and Amazon will jointly lobby lawmakers to amend the bill ahead of a  parliamentary vote expected in a few weeks.

''Any kind of an attempt by interception agencies, are they are called in the bill, to create tools to weaken encryption is a huge risk to our digital security,'' said Lizzie D'Shea a spekeswoman for the Alliance for a Safe and Secure Internet.

She said the  four companies had confirmed their participation in the Lobbying effort.

Representatives for the  four firms  did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokeswoman for Australia's  home affairs minister, who is overseeing the legislation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If the bill becomes law, Australia would be one of the first nations to impose broad access requirements on technology companies, though others are poised to follow.

The so called  Five Eyes nations, which share intelligence, said last month they would demand access to encrypted emails, text messages and voice communications through legislation.

The Five-Eyes  Intelligence network, comprised of the  United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, have each repeatedly warned national security was at risk as authorities are unable to monitor communications of suspects. [Agencies].