[mostlyjason]

Could this be a threat to open source software? If they require developers to insert backdoors to decrypt data, and the company uses open source software for security, how do we know they won’t attempt to weaken it? Most open source projects don’t have the resources or manpower to review every commit, especially when the person submitting is prevented from disclosing their true purpose and under threat from their government. This could be a threat to companies all around the world that use OSS.

[phoe-krk]

This threat to free and open source software isn't new. Governments have been trying to sneak vulnerabilities for a long time now.

What is new is an army of people who will now be forced to make a choice between making and submitting destructive patches and facing penalties and jail.

Incidentally, all of these people are the ones who are subject to Australian law. I feel sorry for them, but I expect that, as an effect of this legislation, many people will stop accepting submissions from these people to keep their software secure - be it proprietary programs or free software.