Latest Articles

Submission: Review of Model Defamation Provisions

Posted on September 20, 2022 | in Submissions

Responsibility for defamation law sits with individual states and territories, however, the Model Defamation Provisions (MDPs) inform how the state-based legislation is enacted. The original MDPs were endorsed in 2005, and they are now in the process of being reviewed and ammeded.

Submission: ACCC issues paper – competition and consumer concerns with social media

Posted on September 19, 2022 | in Submissions

As part of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) ongoing Digital Platform Services Inquiry (2020-2025), the ACCC is considering the potential competition and consumer issues with social media services for both individuals and businesses.

Privacy and data security concerns regarding the use of biometric surveillance technology on children at NSW high school

Posted on September 7, 2022 | in News

On September 6 it was reported that a high school in New South Wales is requiring students to scan their fingerprints to access the school bathroom.

Media Release: Amazon's acquisition of Roomba raises privacy concerns

Posted on August 8, 2022 | in Media releases

Digital Rights Watch is calling on the government to tighten privacy laws in light of Amazon’s $2.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) acquisition of iRobot, the manufacturer of the popular robot vacuum Roomba.

Media Release: Australian digital rights and security experts raise alarmed over draconian bail conditions imposed on protesters.

Posted on June 27, 2022 | in Media releases

NSW Police have imposed bail conditions on at least one Blockade Australia activist that would prohibit the use of encrypted communication apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. NSW police also imposed conditions forcing the activists to hand over any communications device to police and provide passcodes upon request.

The power to misinform begins with an invasion of privacy

Posted on May 10, 2022 | in Articles

Concern about disinformation is higher than ever, especially as Australia faces an election. The allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election represented a watershed moment when it came to understanding the potential for disinformation campaigns to be waged on social media. COVID and vaccine disinformation has further increased attention on the issue and the pressure on the social media platforms to address it.