Media Releases

Australians are increasingly concerned about expansion of surveillance powers

Posted on July 24, 2019 | in Media releases

New polling shows that Australians have a high level of concern over legislation that has made it easier for the Government and law enforcement agencies to access their private personal digital information.

Facial recognition expansion requires urgent review

Posted on July 22, 2019 | in Media releases

Following reports that individuals are being forced to use facial recognition software in order to access government solar rebates, Digital Rights Watch have called for an urgent review of the rapid expansion of the controversial software.

Sweeping metadata laws must be scaled back

Posted on July 19, 2019 | in Media releases

Amidst reports last week of the extraordinarily high rate at which the Australian Federal Police accessed the communications history of journalists, the Human Right Law Centre, Digital Rights Watch and Access Now have called on the Morrison Government to urgently reform metadata laws.

Lizzie O'Shea declared "Hero" for mobilizing the Australian public against the government's anti-encryption legislation

Posted on June 10, 2019 | in Media releases , News

Today, Access Now announces its selection of Lizzie O’Shea, an Australian human rights lawyer, broadcaster, and writer, as a recipient of this year’s Human Rights Heroes Award. O’Shea is recognized for leading work to highlight, analyze, and protest expansive surveillance laws in Australia.

Statement on AFP raid of journalist's home

Posted on June 4, 2019 | in Media releases

“It’s incredibly worrying to see AFP officers carry out a raid on the home of a political journalist working to reveal an important public interest issue – a potential massive expansion of domestic capacity in Australian spy agencies.

Digital Skills investment undermined by major parties' digital rights legislation

Posted on May 10, 2019 | in Media releases

Political announcements around funding for digital skills and innovation will be wasted unless encryption legislation passed last year is repealed, according to human rights experts.