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 …
Submission: Abhorrent Violent Material
In response to the Inquiry into the Criminal Code Amendment (Sharing of Abhorrent Material) Act 2019 (AVM Act), we teamed up with local and global technology companies, industry, academics and …
Submission: Digital Identity – Exposure Draft
In October 2021, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) completed Phase Three of the consultation process for Australia’s proposed Trusted Digital Identity Bill and the accompanying Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) …
Submission: Restricted Access Systems Discussion Paper
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’. …
Submission: Right to Repair
The Productivity Commission is conducting an inquiry into the ‘Right to Repair’. In June 2021 the draft report was released for public consultation. Digital Rights Watch teamed up with Electronic …
Submission: Digital Identity – Position Paper
In July, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) wrapped up a public consultation on the Digital Identity Legislation Position Paper. Needless to say, we are concerned about the way that an …
Submission: The Online Safety Bill
Digital Rights Watch provided a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication on the proposed Online Safety Bill 2020. While we welcome the objectives of the …
Submission: News Media Bargaining Code
Digital Rights Watch made a submission to the Economics Legislation Committee on the proposed Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020. You can read …
Submission: DIGI Proposed Industry Disinformation Code
In December 2019, the Australian Government asked the digital industry to develop a code of practice on how digital products and services would address disinformation. In November 2020, Digital Rights …