The Online Safety Act commenced in January 2022. It provides broad powers to the online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner. In November 2023, the Minister for Communications the Hon Michelle …
Submission: Basic Online Safety Expectations Amendment
The BOSE outline the Australian Government’s expectations that apps, websites, social media and other services will take reasonable steps to keep Australians safe. Read more about the BOSE on the …
Submission: Online Safety Draft Industry Standards
Under the Online Safety Act, the eSafety Commissioner can require industry bodies to draft industry codes to deal with Class 1 and Class 2 material. In 2022, a group of …
Submission: Digital ID Bill 2023 exposure draft
In October 2023 the Digital ID Taskforce (in the Department of Finance) closed a public consultation on the exposure draft of a proposed Digital ID Bill 2023. This follows their …
Submission: Identity Verification Services Bill
In September 2023 the Identity Verification Services Bill 2023 was introduced to Parliament. The Bill was referred to an Inquiry by the Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, …
Submission: Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Online
In January, the Minister for Communications announced that the Australian Government would introduce new laws to provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with new powers to combat online …
Submission: Safe and Responsible AI
On 1 June 2023 the Department of Industry, Science and Resources opened a public consultation in response to a Discussion Paper called ‘Safe and responsible AI in Australia’. The Department …
DRW calls for regulation of RentTech amongst housing crisis
The real estate industry is often overlooked in conversations about data privacy and security, but it is one of the most data-invasive industries, accumulating huge amounts of personal information on …
DRW and EFA team up to support Australian Charter of Human Rights
Digital Rights Watch (DRW) and Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) have teamed up to make a joint submission calling for a federal Human Rights Act as well as a separate but …
Digital Rights Watch proposes new Australian Digital Corporation to balance the scales with big tech
The growing power of private technology companies is a threat to national sovereignty and our democracy, according to a report by Digital Rights Watch. The report, made as a submission …
Submission: Privacy Act Review – Report
After over two years of consultation and review of the Privacy Act, the Attorney General’s Department released the final report in February 2023 and sought public feedback to shape the final direction …
Submission: Inquiry into law enforcement capabilities in relation to child exploitation
In August 2022 the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement initiated an inquiry examining law enforcement capabilities in relation to child exploitation. Digital Rights Watch made a submission to the inquiry …
Submission: residential tenancy reform in South Australia
South Australia’s Residential Tenancies Act 1995 is currently going through a reform process. The review covers a wide range of aspects, including issues related to renters’ digital rights and privacy. …
Submission: Online Safety draft Industry Codes
In 2021 the Australian government passed the Online Safety Act. This law seeks to regulate a broad range of material and behaviour online, from online bullying and harassment and the …
Submission: Inquiry into the 2022 Federal Election
The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is conducting an inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 Federal Election. Digital Rights Watch made a submission focusing on the role that …
Submission: Review of Model Defamation Provisions
Responsibility for defamation law sits with individual states and territories, however, the Model Defamation Provisions (MDPs) inform how the state-based legislation is enacted. The original MDPs were endorsed in 2005, …
Submission: ACCC issues paper – competition and consumer concerns with social media
As part of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) ongoing Digital Platform Services Inquiry (2020-2025), the ACCC is considering the potential competition and consumer issues with social media services …
Submission: Regulating AI and automated decision-making in Australia
In early 2022, Digital Rights Watch responded to an Issues Paper published by the Australian government’s Digital Technology Taskforce, titled: ‘Positioning Australia as a leader in digital economy regulation – …
Submission: Electronic Surveillance Reform Discussion Paper
In late 2021 the Department of Home Affairs released a Reform of Australia’s Digital Surveillance Framework Discussion Paper. The Discussion Paper includes a range of proposals to reform Australia’s laws …
Submission: Anti-Trolling Bill
In late 2021 the Australian government announced its social media ‘anti-trolling’ Bill. The Bill has been framed as an “important part of the government’s commitment to protecting Australians from online …