New law would force Facebook and Google to give police access to encrypted messages

Under government plan, internet companies would be obliged to give law enforcement agencies warranted access

The Australian government has proposed a new cybersecurity law to force global technology companies such as Facebook and Google to give law enforcement agencies access to encrypted messages sent by suspected extremists and criminals.

Malcolm Turnbull said on Friday the law would be modelled on Britain's Investigatory Powers Act, passed in November, which gave intelligence agencies some of the most extensive surveillance powers in the western world.