Google and Facebook join rights groups to fight Australia's encryption bill

Unusual alliance calls on government to 'slow down' and listen to 'legitimate concerns'

Tech heavyweights Google and Facebook have joined civil and digital rights groups in an unusual alliance aimed at defeating Australia's planned encryption laws.

The Alliance for a Safe and Secure Internet brings together the disparate groups in a plea for the government to "slow down" and listen to "legitimate concerns" about its encryption bill.