Articles

Explainer: Privacy reform in Australia

Posted on January 19, 2022 | in Articles

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?

Explainer: Basic Online Safety Expectations

Posted on November 1, 2021 | in Articles , Tools and Guides

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).

Australia's new mass surveillance mandate

Posted on September 2, 2021 | in Articles

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.

Anonymity online is important

Posted on April 30, 2021 | in Articles

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 at you. It would always be above you displaying at least your name, the date of your birth, and the neighborhood where you live. Imagine being in a crowd at a protest, or a concert. Anyone’s, everyone’s details would be there. And of course, if the police looked that screen would fill with all sorts of additional information about you and the people you associate with.

Techno solutionism—very few things actually need to be an app.

Posted on March 24, 2021 | in Articles

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 in sex.

Facebook removed news—what now?

Posted on February 19, 2021 | in Articles

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 viewing local or international news content.