Latest Articles

Submission: Inquiry into the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society

Posted on September 23, 2024

Human rights must be at the centre of Australia’s approach to tech policy

Protecting, enhancing and upholding human rights is essential to ensuring Australia’s technology policy is robust, fit for purpose, and meaningfully contributes to the improvement of individuals and community wellbeing both online and off.

Submission: Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act

Posted on June 25, 2024 | in Submissions

The Online Safety Act commenced in January 2022. It provides broad powers to the online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner.

How Western Australia could lead the nation on privacy

Posted on May 28, 2024 | in Articles

Australians are sitting with anticipation awaiting August 2024, when the Commonwealth Government promised to deliver a draft bill to update the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). But there’s another bill that’s poised to outshine the Commonwealth’s and champion state privacy rights.

Submission: Basic Online Safety Expectations Amendment

Posted on March 1, 2024 | in Submissions

The BOSE outline the Australian Government’s expectations that apps, websites, social media and other services will take reasonable steps to keep Australians safe. Read more about the BOSE on the eSafety website here.

Public health, children's rights and privacy organisations deliver open letter to Attorney General calling for bold privacy reform

Posted on February 9, 2024 | in Media releases

The Australian government must act on its commitment to bold reform of Australia’s Privacy Act in order to uphold the safety, wellbeing and autonomy of children, according to an open letter today delivered to Attorney General Mark Dreyfus. The Open Letter was coordinated by Digital Rights Watch, and has been co-signed by 22 organisations across public health, children’s rights, and privacy advocacy. It also has over 800 signatures from members of the public in support.

Submission: Online Safety Draft Industry Standards

Posted on January 7, 2024 | in Submissions

Under the Online Safety Act, the eSafety Commissioner can require industry bodies to draft industry codes to deal with Class 1 and Class 2 material. In 2022, a group of industry bodies commenced drafting industry codes to handle Class 1A and 1B material – this includes Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and/or Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM), “pro-terror” material, as well as material that deals with crime and violence, and drug-related content.