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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An Open Letter to the Liberal and Labor Parties on copyright reform
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), Australia’s leading digital rights advocacy organisation, has long campaigned for positive reform to Australia’s Copyright Act. EFA believes that Australia’s Copyright Act is unnecessarily inflexible and no longer fit for purpose in an increasingly digital world. This inflexibility means that technological and service innovations are often unable to be brought to market in Australia, thereby hampering the development of Australia’s digital economy. The widespread popularity of…
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An Open Letter to the Liberal and Labor Parties on encryption and privacy technologies
In January 2016 Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), along with the Australian Privacy Foundation, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, BluePrint for Free Speech and FutureWise wrote to Prime Minister Turnbull asking for his support for strong encryption and for his commitment to reject any law, policy or mandate that would undermine digital security. The response received from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on behalf of the Prime Minister, stated…
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Pirate, Science & Greens Parties lead on Digital Rights in 2016
EFA today releases its 2016 Election Policy Scorecard, which rates nine parties on their policy positions relating to the primary digital rights issues. Pirate Party Australia and the Australian Greens again score full marks, as they did in 2013. This year, they’re joined by the Science Party in achieving that score. EFA’s 2016 Election Policy Scorecard is based on responses received to a detailed Policy Questionnaire, combined with analysis of…
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The FBI drops its case against Apple that only made everyone’s security worse
The FBI has succeeded in hacking into an iPhone that belonged to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook without Apple’s help. As a consequence, the FBI has dropped its legal case that was trying to force Apple to do what has been done by an unknown “third party”. Given the emotional investment by the FBI in this case and the apparent ease of giving it up, it is confusing many as…
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TPP Under Fire in the U.S. As Other Signatories Advance Towards Ratification
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is taking a beating in the ongoing U.S. presidential election cycle, leaving some observers to wonder if it can survive such a political backlash against trade agreements. But as the leading candidates seem to compete for who can bash U.S. trade policies the hardest, other countries have been pressing forward to ratify the TPP since the deal’s signature in February. In the U.S., chances are close…
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.