Digital Rights Advocate, Kate Bower In October, I had the pleasure of seeing national security analyst, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey speak on a panel about mis- and dis-information at this year’s …
Submission: Review of AI and Australian Consumer Law 2024
AI-enabled goods and services are now commonplace in the Australian market and people interact with AI-enabled products in their daily lives. These products range from entirely online digital products, such …
Submission: Phase 2 Industry Codes
Draft Consolidated Industry Codes of Practice for the Online Industry (Class 1C and Class 2 Material) under the Online Safety Act 2021 We recognise there are genuine challenges regarding the …
Submission: Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024
Digital Rights Watch has been involved in many Senate committee consultations since our founding in 2016. Never before have we witnessed such a shocking display of misusing the committee inquiry …
Media Release: OAIC Determination on Bunnings
Digital Rights Watch welcomes OAIC landmark determination that Bunnings breached Australians’ privacy with facial recognition Digital Rights Watch welcomes the determination from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner today …
Submission: Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Privacy is essential to upholding democracy, reining in corporate power, and building a safe and fair digital future. The bill has been described as a ‘first tranche’ in the process …
Submission: The opportunities and impacts for Australia arising out of the uptake of AI technologies
We need not look to far-future hypothetical scenarios to understand the ways in which AI can cause harm: it is already happening. There is over a decade of case studies …
Submission: Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024
We have significant concerns about the breadth of powers that the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 proposes to grant the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) …
Submission: Inquiry into the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society
Human rights must be at the centre of Australia’s approach to tech policy Protecting, enhancing and upholding human rights is essential to ensuring Australia’s technology policy is robust, fit for …
Media release: Privacy Reform
Digital Rights Watch welcomes privacy reform, but more must be done urgently to bring our laws into the 21st century Today, the Attorney General tabled a set of privacy reforms, …
Submission: Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act
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 …
How Western Australia could lead the nation on privacy
Australians are sitting with anticipation awaiting August 2024, when the Commonwealth Government promised to deliver a draft bill to update the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). But there’s another …
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 …
Public health, children’s rights and privacy organisations deliver open letter to Attorney General calling for bold privacy reform
The Australian government must act on its commitment to bold reform of Australia’s Privacy Act in order to uphold the safety, wellbeing and autonomy of children, according to an open …
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 …
Local and international organisations urge Australia’s eSafety Commissioner against requiring the tech industry to scan users’ personal files and messages
40 organisations from around the world have today delivered a joint letter to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, calling for protections for privacy, digital security and end-to-end encryption. The letter was coordinated …
2023 Wrap Up: what’s hot, what’s not, what’s coming…
This is our final update for 2023, so here’s a little roundup of the highlights and lowlights of the year, as well as a sneak peek into what’s coming in …
Posting protest photos? Here’s how to protect others’ identities
Sharing photos of protests is a great way to amplify the impact of collective action, raise awareness on important issues, and encourage more people to participate. We love it! But …
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, …