Articles

The power to misinform begins with an invasion of privacy

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.

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Why the online safety inquiry falls short (and why it matters)

It is no surprise that Big Tech has become deeply unpopular. From the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the Facebook Papers to the dark side of TikTok and Google misleading people; the public is becoming increasingly aware of the invasive data collection, exploitative practices and harmful business models of the social media platforms that have come to dominate our lives.

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In solidarity with Switter

It is with great sadness that we hear of the closure of Switter – a sex work friendly social media platform – in response to an increasingly hostile regulatory environment that has eroded sex workers’ rights online over the last several years.

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Explainer: Privacy reform in Australia

Australia’s rebrand on privacy

If you read our newsletter or check the website you may have noticed that the Australian government is doing everything they can to rebrand as the world’s leading tech regulator. In the past few years we have been under a deluge of new laws, directives, industry codes… and yet none of them have fundamentally altered the way we interact with the digital ecosystem around us. Could the ongoing Privacy Act review finally shake up the system? And why do we also need an Online Privacy Bill?

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Explainer: Basic Online Safety Expectations

The Online Safety Act 2021 passed in June this year and comes into effect on 23 January 2022. Under Part 4 of the legislation, the Minister has the power to determine something called the Basic Online Safety Expectations (BOSE).

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Australia's new mass surveillance mandate

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. It can happen without a warrant and without you ever knowing. That’s just the start of it. Outraged? Good.

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