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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Facebook address move raises new privacy worries
Update 19/1/11 10am: Looks like Facebook have suspended this scary new feature for now. Facebook, by now almost synonymous with online privacy woes, has made another change to its platform that has privacy experts worried. The latest move, reported in several outlets, expands the information available to Facebook application developers. Now, users can grant applications permission to read their mobile phone number and current address. While it doesn’t appear to…
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Europe gets it: Filters don't protect children
The European Internet Services Providers Association (EuroISPA) has spoken out against ISP internet filtering, saying that it is an ineffective band-aid that leaves illegal material online and in the wild. EuroISPA has called on the European Parliament to focus instead on permanently removing the material at its source. Forcing ISPs to block access to sites, they point out, leaves the material available to abusers – as it is they, who…
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EFA raises concerns about attack on online commerce
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today questioned the campaign by major retailers to thwart the rise in overseas e-commerce. Major retailers today published an open letter calling on the Government to lower the GST-free threshold on imported items, in a bid to slow the growth of online sales. “We think this move would hurt Australian internet users and consumers,” said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. “Until a solid case is made that…
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Wikileaks – think of the politicians
The Wikileaks saga continues to captivate the public imagination. The drama around Assange and his arrest, the fascinating leaks, and the cyberpunk-style internet war that is raging in the background means this is the story that just keeps on giving. And it’s not just geeks that are soaking up the news – it’s everybody. This will have a huge impact on future debates on civil liberties online. Though Wikileaks has…
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R18+ games – down but not out
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) met on Friday, with the creation of an R-18+ category for computer games a top agenda item. Because changes to the classification code require unanimous agreement by all states and the Commonwealth, this is the body where the games reform is going to live or die. With the commonwealth government strongly behind the reform, there was almost feverish excitement amongst gamers that the AGs…
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EFA disappointed by stalled games reform
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today urged state governments to continue the momentum for classification reform, following a lack of agreement by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to establish an adults-only classification for computer games. Currently, computer games that would be rated above MA-15+ are banned for sale in Australia. “This is a reform that has overwhelming public support and is long overdue,” said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. “For over a…
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.