The Australian government has new laws on the books to hack your computer, your online accounts, and just about any piece of technology and networks you come into contact with. …
Anonymity online is important
Imagine if we walked around the real world with a small screen floating above our heads. That screen would update with a different set of information depending on who looked …
Techno solutionism—very few things actually need to be an app.
Last week the Twittersphere and news outlets lit up, reporting that the NSW Police Commissioner suggested a mobile application should be created to verify consent between two adults before engaging …
Facebook removed news—what now?
In the latest move of the flexing competition between the Australian government and Big Tech over the News Media Bargaining Code, Facebook has blocked anyone in Australia from sharing or …
All I want for Christmas is to stop normalising surveillance
Whether you’re stringing up Christmas lights, getting out the Menorah, or just enjoying the end of the rollercoaster of a year that was 2020, just about everyone will partake in …
The Privacy Act review could shake up Australia’s value-based approach to privacy
When you look around the world, Australia stands out as somewhat unique when it comes to privacy. Why? Unlike most “western” democracies, it lacks a federal recognition of the right …
Parliament metadata report is a step in the right direction
The introduction of the metadata retention regime way back in 2016 was one of the catalysts for creating Digital Rights Watch. Mandatory metadata retention, for access by a list of …
QR codes, privacy and security
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, we are seeing increased use of technology with the goal of keeping track of who is coming and going from venues and small businesses. …
The Five Eyes are still trying to undermine encryption
Another year, another Ministerial meeting of the Five Eyes —one of the most powerful known espionage alliances in history. Every year, Ministers from the five member countries (Australia, Canada, United …
The News Media Bargaining Code is not fit for any purpose
There’s no doubt in our minds that we want digital platforms to change–to treat our privacy as a priority, to ensure our data is protected and not used against our …
Police drones and coronavirus surveillance
People should be able to use public spaces without being subjected to oppressive surveillance wherever they go. Yet, according to various media reports, police in Victoria are beginning to roll …
Australia needs to face up to the dangers of facial recognition technology
In the 20 years of the “war on terror” Australia has led from the front in expanding powers for law enforcement and ramping up surveillance at the expense of public …
The Australian government’s concern about TikTok is not just about data ethics – it’s about politics
There are good reasons to be concerned about TikTok, but it should be part of a larger conversation around privacy and surveillance capitalism. While commenting on calls to ban TikTok …
Navigating the COVIDSafe app rhetoric
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen the government pull out all the stops in an attempt to convince the Australian public to download the COVIDSafe App. There are plenty of …
ASIO bill highlights why the government has a problem with public trust
The government sure has asked for a lot of trust from the public recently. Australians have been asked to disregard a long history of overreach, scope creep, data breaches and …
Coronavirus and the police state
Some of the laws that have been enacted in recent weeks in response to the coronavirus are unprecedented. It’s now unlawful to do all sorts of everyday things, like venture …
Respect for human rights must come at the centre of any technological drive to fight coronavirus
A problem like COVID-19 is so monumental in scale and ferocity that it creates an understandable temptation to race to use any method at our disposal to prevent its spread. …
It’s Time to Throw Off Our Digital Chains
Discussions about digital privacy often evoke images of whistle-blowers, journalists, and intelligence agencies. But beyond this, it can sometimes feel as though the business model of corporate data mining presents …
People have a right to be suspicious of journalists’ self-advocacy, but press freedom is important
You’d be hard pressed to miss this week’s all-out campaign from the media sector on government attacks on press freedom. This remarkable collaborative effort should not be understated – to …
Invisible handcuffs
The regulation of technology capitalism is now a mainstream topic of discussion. Privacy scandals such as the misuse of Facebook data by Cambridge Analytica, the rise of right-wing extremism, and the …