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around funding for digital skills and innovation will be wasted unless encryption legislation passed last year is repealed, according to human rights experts. “Of course we welcome announcements …
Human rights online highlighted as a key policy area for the 2019 Federal Election
Digital rights experts are urging Australians to consider how political parties are protecting their rights online when they head to the ballot box. A ranking of party positions on key …
Statement on arrest of Julian Assange in London
“We do not support arbitrary deprivation of liberty without proper due legal process. Mr Assange continued to seek political asylum in the Ecaudorian embassy in London, as is his right …
Changes to Australia’s criminal code will create a new class of internet censorship
The Australian Government have announced the introduction of a new Bill aimed at imposing criminal liability on executives of social media platforms if they fail to remove “abhorrent violent content.” …
Penalties for extremist social media content needs further thought
Digital Rights Watch have today warned that proposed laws that would make it a criminal offence for social media companies to leave videos filmed by terrorists on their sites require …
International Civil Liberties and Technology Coalition Urges Australian Parliament To Amend Its Dangerous Encryption Law
Today, an international civil liberties and technology coalition urged the Australian Parliament to amend its new encryption law to minimize the threats that the law poses to cybersecurity, privacy, and …
Senate changes to encryption legislation are a step in the right direction
Whilst amendments to the Assistance and Access Bill 2018 which passed the Senate today are an important step towards addressing serious concerns, the entire legislation is flawed and should be …
Victorian pushback on surveillance of students welcomed by privacy experts
Digital Rights Watch has today commended the Victorian Government for pushing back on a Federal Government proposal to operate facial recognition programs within state schools. “We’re very pleased to see …
Australian Parliament ignores overwhelming evidence against Encryption Bill
Digital Rights Watch have slammed both the Government and the Labor Opposition for passing the Assistance and Access Bill through the Lower House of Parliament today. “The fundamental fact remains …
Better oversight and limits to power are an important first step, but Encryption Bill is still deeply flawed
Digital Rights Watch have cautiously welcomed proposed changes to the Assistance and Access Bill 2018 following reports that a compromise position has been achieved between the Labor Opposition and the …
Digital Rights experts welcome Labor standing up to protect encryption
Digital Rights Watch has welcomed reports that the Federal Labor Opposition intends to oppose the passage of the Assistance and Access Bill 2018 in its current form before Christmas. Shadow …
Charities welcome new electoral laws
The Hands Off Our Charities alliance has released the following statement on the Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform Bill: Hands Off Our Charities welcomes the passing of this version of …
Democratic processes trump Ministerial overreach
Privacy experts are calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to respect democratic processes and stop attempting to coerce Parliament to push through increased law …
Extension of My Health Record opt-out period welcomed by privacy advocates
Digital Rights Watch has welcomed the news that the Government will extend the opt-out period of the My Health Record system through to January 31, 2019.
Research shows Australians deeply concerned by Government’s spyware legislation
New research released today by the Alliance for a Safe and Secure Internet shows a majority of Australians are deeply concerned by the Government’s proposed Assistance and Access Bill 2018 …
Cyber attacks show need for robust encryption
Revelations by US, UK and Dutch authorities of the targeting of critical cyber systems and infrastructure by foreign nation state actors demonstrates the need for robust cybersecurity at all levels, …
Slow down, stop and listen
Consumers, human rights groups, industry, telcos and technology companies join forces to sound alarm at Government’s spyware legislation A diverse group of consumer representatives, human rights organisations, industry, technology and …
Encryption legislation being introduced to Parliament ignores active consultation
Digital Rights Watch today expressed deep concerns at reports that the Coalition Joint Party Room has approved the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 to be …
Government attempts to break encryption must be withdrawn: privacy experts
Australia’s foremost privacy experts have called for draft legislation that would grant law enforcement the power to effectively break encryption and damage key technological infrastructure, to be withdrawn. In a …
Failure to approve Chelsea Manning a visa sends chilling message on freedom of speech
The Government’s failure to approve a visa in time for human rights defender Chelsea Manning to enter Australia for a series of speaking events has been strongly condemned by a …