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.
-
You may be sick of worrying about online privacy, but ‘surveillance apathy’ is also a problem
We all seem worried about privacy. Though it’s not only privacy itself we should be concerned about: it’s also our attitudes towards privacy that are important. When we stop caring about our digital privacy, we witness surveillance apathy. And it’s something that may be particularly significant for marginalised communities, who feel they hold no power to navigate or negotiate fair use of digital technologies. This article is by Siobhan Lyons,…
-
Australian Government must reinstate phone and internet access to asylum seekers
Digital Rights Watch Australia and Electronic Frontiers Australia today urge the Australian Government to ensure that the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees being held in offshore detention camps on Manus Island (Papua New Guinea) and Nauru are respected. The Australian Government’s offshore processing system which has established these camps has resulted in violations of various rights protected under international human rights treaties to which Australia is a party,…
-
EFA elects first female leadership team
Electronic Frontiers Australia, the country’s leading digital rights organisation, is proud to announce that its Board has elected its first female leadership team. Lyndsey Jackson was elected unopposed as the new Chair of EFA at a Board meeting held on Sunday 15th October. Katherine Phelps was elected as the new vice-Chair. Lachlan Simpson was also elected as Secretary and Shaun Haddrill continues in the Treasurer’s position to which he was…
-
Discussing the national facial recognition database
On Monday, 9th October, our Executive Officer Jon Lawrence spoke with Steve Austin on ABC Radio Brisbane about the decision by COAG to implement a comprehensive national facial recognition database including photos from all Australian driver’s licences and the threats this ‘Capability’ poses to civil liberties. Listen to the interview here, from 39:14.
-
Let’s face it, we’ll be no safer with a national facial recognition database
A commitment to share the biometric data of most Australians – including your driving licence photo – agreed at Thursday’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting will result in a further erosion of our privacy. That sharing is not necessary. It will be costly. But will it save us from terrorism? Not all, although it will give people a false sense of comfort. Importantly, it will allow politicians and officials…
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.