We take stock of the biggest developments in digital rights in 2022
Media Release: New report shows how big-tech is undermining local creative and media industries
The growing power of big tech platforms in the internet economy is hurting local industries and harming communities according to a new report from Digital Rights Watch.
Media Release: Amazon’s acquisition of Roomba raises privacy concerns
Privacy protections are a vital line of defence against expanding corporate power.
Media Release: Australian digital rights and security experts raise alarmed over draconian bail conditions imposed on protesters.
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
Amplification algorithms are the fuel on the fire of disinformation.
Supporter Survey Results
In the spirit of openness, we wanted to share with you the responses to our supporter survey and how we are reflecting on them.
August 2020 Roundup
Hi friend! There’s never a dull moment in the fight for digital rights! Here’s your (inaugural) monthly Digital Rights Watch update, with an overview of recent digital rights issues to …
A farewell from the founding Chair
Four years ago, a group of academics, technology experts and activists came together in the meeting rooms of Thoughtworks Australia with a shared vision: to unite in their advocacy against …
Campaign: Ban Mass Surveillance Facial Recognition
Facial recognition technology is being deployed across Australia. Local governments, corporations large and small, federal and state government departments and law enforcement agencies are rolling out these surveillance systems, all …
Event: The Campsite Rule- Protecting our Rights in a Crisis
When you visit a campsite, we all know the right thing to do is to leave it better than we found it. The same rule should apply to our rights …
Onus on Government to Earn Public Trust On Tracing App
JOINT MEDIA RELEASEDIGITAL RIGHTS WATCHHUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRECENTRE FOR RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY An alliance of digital rights groups urged the Morrison Government to fill in obvious gaps in the development of …
Covid App Data Hosted Overseas is Vulnerable to US Law
Choosing Amazon Web Services to host the covid-19 contact tracing app data risks exposing private information about Australians to US law enforcement, Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea. “Storing data …
The Government Covid-19 Contact Tracing Smartphone App
last updated on May 10th prior to legislation being tabled previously updated on April 26th after the Government launched the app, and April 29th after comments from Stephen Conroy To …
Another empty assurance from government can’t restore trust in Covid App
Attorney-General Christian Porter’s statement that the police will not have access to metadata from the government’s Covid19 contact tracing app is wholly inadequate, Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea said …
Guarantee Limits and Protections on Covid App or it will Fail
After years of attacking personal privacy, it is little wonder that the announcement from the Federal Government of a location tracking app has been met with scepticism, Digital Rights Watch …
100+ human rights groups demand global governments not use coronavirus pandemic as cover for expanding digital surveillance
A global coalition of 100 human rights and civil liberties organisations have today united to tell world governments not to use the coronavirus pandemic as a cover to usher in …
Bipartisan contempt for human rights continues to drag Australia into a police state
Digital rights experts have today revealed how continued bipartisan passage of national security legislation through federal parliament has caused a generation-long weakening of Australians’ fundamental human rights. “It’s appalling to …
Clearview AI Data Breach – Another reason for moratorium on the use of facial recognition technologies
The Clearview AI data breach reveals that Australian law enforcement agencies are using the company’s facial recognition tools for identification purposes without any oversight or privacy protections, digital rights experts …
Timeline: national security legislation
Australia is on a worrying journey towards an increase in government surveillance, violating basic human rights and invading our everyday privacy. But in order to understand how we got here, …
Submission to consultation on a new Online Safety Act
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has been asked to run a public consultation over a new Online Safety Act to improve Australia’s online safety regulatory framework. …