Media Releases

Forcing social media organisations to decrypt will have far-reaching consequences on user's right to privacy

Posted on July 14, 2017 | in Media releases

Digital Rights Watch has expressed concerns at the Government’s announcement of new legislation designed to compel social media companies to hand over access to user’s encrypted content.

Global coalition from five nations demands "Five Eyes" respect encryption

Posted on June 30, 2017 | in Media releases

Today, 83 organizations and individuals from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States sent a letter to their respective governments insisting that government officials defend strong encryption. The letter comes on the heels of a meeting of the “Five Eyes” ministerial meeting in Ottawa, Canada earlier this week.

Defend privacy and encryption from the Five Eyes

Posted on June 25, 2017 | in Media releases

Digital Rights Watch has called for Australian citizens to defend the right to privacy and resist any plans to undermine encryption that may result from the meeting of the Five Eyes governments today.

Encryption strengthens society: Digital Rights Watch

Posted on June 7, 2017 | in Media releases

Digital Rights Watch has called on the Australian Government to clarify their position on law enforcement agencies accessing Australian citizens’ encrypted devices and communications.

Budget 2017 – a missed opportunity to act on digital rights

Posted on May 9, 2017 | in Media releases

Budget 2017 initiatives relevant to digital rights, surveillance and privacy:

AU$10.7 million over four years to establish the Cyber Security Advisory Office (CSAO).

$22.7 million over two years for the next stage of development for the GovPass national digital identity

AU$321 million over four years for the Australian Federal Police to hire biometrics experts and covert online investigators and for increased digital forensics capabilities

AU$75 million over four years for ASIO to increase biometric capability and online forensic operations

AU$59.9 million over four years to enhance biometric storage and processing capabilities within the Department of Immigration and Border Protection

“This Budget could not have been more out of step with what the public are demanding in terms of their digital rights. It’s disappointing to see such a huge opportunity lost in favour of a draconian approach to privacy and the rights of Australian citizens,” said Digital Rights Watch Chair Tim Singleton Norton.

Digital privacy advocates declare 13 April national day of action against data retention

Posted on April 11, 2017 | in Media releases

As Australia’s mandatory data retention scheme comes into effect, Digital Rights Watch is urging citizens to protect themselves from unwarranted mass surveillance, declaring Thursday 13 April as ‘National Get A VPN Day’.