Promoting And Protecting Digital Rights Since 1994
EFA is an independent non-profit association that relies on membership subscriptions and donations. If you’re concerned about digital rights in Australia, please join or donate today.
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FBI says device encryption is ‘evil’ and a threat to public safety
The FBI continues its anti-encryption push. It’s now expanded past Director Christopher Wray to include statements by other FBI personnel. Not that Chris Wray isn’t taking every opportunity he can to portray personal security as a threat to the security of the American public. He still is. But he’s no longer the only FBI employee willing to speak up on the issue. This post is by Tim Cushing and was…
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Australian tech start-ups stand to lose out in proposed copyright reforms
The Australian government quietly introduced the Copyright Amendment (Service Providers) Bill 2017 to the Senate on Wednesday. If enacted, the bill will extend the scope of Australia’s copyright safe harbours – very slightly. Safe harbours protect internet hosts and platform providers from monetary liability for copyright-infringing content posted or shared by their users. For example, if you post the latest Thor movie to YouTube, YouTube won’t be responsible for copyright…
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What consumers need from the ACCC inquiry into Google and Facebook
Yesterday the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched an inquiry into digital platforms including Google and Facebook. Chairman of the ACCC Rod Sims said: The ACCC will look closely at longer-term trends and the effect of technological change on competition in media and advertising. We will also consider the impact of information asymmetry between digital platform providers and advertisers and consumers The inquiry is overdue. To be useful, it…
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Protecting Sources and Whistleblowers in the Digital Age
I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Walkley Foundation panel discussion on “Protecting Sources and Whistleblowers in the Digital Age”. My co-panelists were Paul Farrell (Buzzfeed, ex-Guardian), Elise Worthington (ABC), with Julie Posetti (ex-Fairfax/ABC) as compere. As well as providing a forum for the panel discussion, the event served as the official release of Julie’s UNESCO study “Protecting Journalism Sources in the Digital Age”. As the only non-journalist…
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Despite a victory on IP, the TPP’s resurgence hasn’t cured its ills
Ever since the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) back in January, the remaining eleven countries have been quietly attempting to bring a version of the agreement into force. Following some initial confusion,it was announced on Friday that they have reached an “agreement in principle” on “core elements” of a deal. Even so Canada’s trade minister, Canada’s trade minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne confirmed that the agreement is far from…
Help fight for our digital rights
What We Do
Policy
We actively monitor a number of policy areas and specific issues. The topics below provide a detailed view of EFA’s policy positions.
Copyright
Australia’s copyright laws are outdated, inflexible and not fit for the digital age. As such, EFA is a long-standing supporter of reform of Australia’s Copyright Act.
Privacy & Security
Privacy is fundamentally about consent and control over access to information, and goes hand-in-hand with security. Privacy is a human right.
Censorship
Adults should be able to make their own informed decisions about what content they create and consume.
Encryption
Access to encryption technologies is vital for individuals and groups to be able to safeguard the security and privacy of their information.
Internet Safety
Surveillance is not safety. Safety for whom, against what? This complex problem is more likely to be exacerbated, rather than solved, by measures that allow for unaccountable surveillance and the undermining of communications security.
Surveillance
EFA is committed to ensuring that Australian’s home life is not subject to arbitrary interference.