Malcolm Turnbull emails on private server [IMG] Malcolm Turnbull...

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    Malcolm Turnbull emails on private server



    Malcolm Turnbull has been operating a private email server outside federal parliament’s secure system to conduct government business and communicate with colleagues and journalists.

    In a situation similar to that of Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, which caused a scandal, the Prime Minister has been using the separate server and email address for work and private use.
    A spokeswoman for Mr Turnbull said last night: “The majority of government correspondence is routine and of a non-sensitive nature and is therefore not subject to sensitive security markings.”
    Mr Turnbull’s non-governmental email account and server pose a security risk, exposing him to hacking and foreign surveillance. Use of private email addresses for classified communications is prohibited by security rules.
    It may also be contrary to the Freedom of Information Act, by frustrating requests to access official documents from a minister and his office.
    The private server provides Mr Turnbull with full control of his communications, and responsibility for their security.
    Mr Turnbull used the private email address during his time as communications minister and The Australian understands he has not shut down the account since becoming Prime Minister.
    The same server has been used by his wife, businesswoman Lucy Turnbull, and her staff.
    Mr Turnbull and his office have for some months also been using the app Confide to communicate privately with other politicians, journalists and Liberal powerbrokers.
    This follows revelations by The Australian in March that Mr Turnbull was using the digital communication app Wickr, — where encrypted messages self-destruct and metadata cannot be traced — to communicate with colleagues.
    Mr Turnbull’s office did not respond to the majority of questions from The Australian about whether classified materials had been sent from his private server or whether Mr Turnbull had sought parliamentary clearance for the use of the server.
    “The server is located in Australia,” Mr Turnbull’s spokeswoman said.
    “Many MPs and ministers use private messaging systems — including SMS, whatsapp, Wickr, etc, and private emails, etc — for non-sensitive material for reasons of convenience and superior functionality. All communications or records of a minister which relate to his or her duties are (subject to many exemptions) potentially subject to FOI whether it is on SMS, a private email server or a government email server.”
    Mrs Clinton was forced to hand over her personal email server to the Justice Department after it was revealed she had been operating a private email account during her time as secretary of state. While she strongly denied claims she had sent any classified emails from her private server, the FBI investigated the security of the private email system she used.
    It has since been revealed Mrs Clinton sent classified emails, including some that related to the attack on the consulate in Libya in 2012, the location of French fighter jets during the NATO bombardment of Libya and the location of an ambassador. When Mrs Clinton handed in her server, it was revealed that about 31,000 emails had been deleted.
    The National Security Agency was concerned Mrs Clinton’s use of her server would expose her to hacking or foreign surveillance of her communications, especially when linked to classified or sensitive materials.
    In Australia, personal email systems for classified communications are prohibited by the Protective Security Policy Framework, the Information Security Manual and the Information Security Controls 2015. The ISC 2015 states that agencies must certify and accredit the physical security of a server against the requirements in the government’s physical security management protocol.
    It also warns of the security risks associated with the non-secure nature of email.
    In addition, the ministerial code of conduct requires that ministers maintain security over cabinet documents.
 
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