EFA statement regarding proposals for the Australian Signals Directorate to be handed warrantless domestic spying powers
The proposal that the Australian Signals Directorate be permitted to access emails, bank records, and text messages of Australian citizens without their knowledge should be unequivocally rejected by all Australians. EFA is deeply concerned that this is yet another example of governments considering intruding on the private lives of innocent Australians and further eroding what […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.