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 …
Submission: Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety
In December 2021, alongside the announcement of the Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill, the government announced a Parliamentary Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety. The Committee will conduct the Inquiry …
Submission: Privacy Act Review – Discussion Paper
The long-awaited review of the Privacy Act is progressing! Digital Rights Watch has been actively following the development of privacy legislation in Australia, and participating in the consultation process to …
Submission: Online Privacy Bill
While we’re in the midst of a (much needed) review of the Privacy Act, the government has introduced a parallel draft Online Privacy Bill, ostensibly to address the privacy challenges …
Submission: Draft Restricted Access Systems Declaration
Context The Online Safety Act 2021 was passed in June 2021. Contained within it is an Online Content Scheme which includes the ability for the eSafety Commissioner to issue ‘remedial notices’. Upon receiving such …
Submission: draft Basic Online Safety Expectations
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 …