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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Julian Assange and Wikileaks deserve protection
All it needs for evil to flourish is for people of good will to do nothing. – Edmund Burke We understand from news reports overnight that Julian Assange, founder of the whistleblowing website Wikileaks has presented himself to UK police and been arrested over sexual assault claims in Sweden. We call on the government to ensure that Assange is afforded the proper support, security and representation due to an Australian…
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R-18 games: Action at last?
There have been some very interesting developments in the last week in the push to finally reform the classification system to create an R-18+ rating for computer games. It’s an issue that has languished for years despite overwhelming public support. Finally, it seems to be gaining some momentum thanks to actions by the Commonwealth Government. Currently, any game that does not fit into the MA-15+ ratings category is banned for…
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EFA urges states to embrace game rating change
Electronic Frontiers Australia today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it supports an adults-only category for computer games, ahead of a meeting of Australian attorneys-general this Friday. “In banning all games that are not suitable for children, Australia is an outlier amongst developed countries,” said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. “Given the average age of the Australian gamer is over 30, it’s ridiculous that adults can’t choose to purchase entertainment designed just…
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"Creepy" inquiry into online privacy puts AG on defensive
A Senate enquiry into online privacy continued with hearings at Parliament House on Friday, and both Google and the Attorney General’s Department found themselves on the defensive. The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts appear to be taking our privacy online seriously, and followed up on written submissions with some probing questions. The heat was on Google who spoke to their own privacy credentials and issued another…
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What are your concerns about online privacy?
Electronic Frontiers Australia is appearing before Senate committee on online privacy tomorrow. What are your concerns about online privacy? Leave your feedback in the comments below. Feedback from Twitter and Facebook: NewtonMark Mark Newton – @efa_oz The AG’s #ozlog initiatives would be a good place to start. mwyres Michael Wyres – @NewtonMark @efa_oz Agreed – #ozlog definitely the most obvious issue… Jay Stephens – 1. Concern that any rules mandating data retention will lead to my…
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Did Google steal your password?
Yesterday I spoke to the PM program on Radio National for a follow up on Google’s WiFi privacy debacle, and have spoken to a few other media outlets as well. No doubt there’s a lot of interest in the story because of Google’s household name and seemingly unstoppable rise towards digital dominance. The “don’t be evil” motto is nice and simple, but it also means a good story is in the…
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.