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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EFA responds to Senator Conroy (updated)
Update : The Minister followed up his attacks today, see below. During yesterday’s Question Time, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy again faced questions about the Rudd Government’s highly unpopular push to introduce mandatory, nationwide internet censorship. In his answer, the Minister accused this organisation of misleading the public and international organisations. We relish the opportunity to respond and set the record straight. The minister was asked by Senator Boyce about the reaction…
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EFA welcomes Liberal call for greater liberties
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today welcomes the comments made by the Shadow Treasurer, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, on the Government’s proposal to effectively censor the Internet. In a speech delivered at the Grattan Institute last night, Mr Hockey said that the Government’s mandatory Internet filtering policy “is likely to be unworkable in practice.” “Mr Hockey correctly identified several of the fundamental problems in the Government’s mandatory Internet filtering policy,” said…
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Interview on R18+ games on 4ZzZ’s ZedGames
Last month, I was interviewed by 4ZzZ’s Zed Games show on the introduction of an R18+ rating in Australia. The show also includes an interview with Gamers 4 Croydon. You can grab the mp3 here: 20100218-ZedGames-R18-EFA-G4C (40mb). Thanks a lot to Ray and Chani for having me on the show. It’s great to see a gaming show on prime-time community radio, and I’m really excited to hear future episodes.
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Oz Internet Censorship gets noticed in China
Kevin Rudd’s plans to crack down on Internet content appear to have drawn the attention of no less than the Chinese Government. The website of the State Council Information Office recently featured an article (Google translation here) on Rudd’s endorsement of an “online ombudsman” to deal with inappropriate Internet content and discusses the upcoming mandatory filtering legislation. The article reads in part: Kevin Rudd told the media that the spread…
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It's time for action: 10 things you can do to stop the filter
There has been a lot of talk in the media and on Twitter over the past week about protests, rallies and other events to stop the Government’s mandatory Internet filter from ever becoming law. Electronic Frontiers Australia remains sceptical of the value and impact of those sorts of events. Rather, the most effective strategy is to apply pressure on our elected representatives, so that they know Australians are opposed to…
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Government receives 55,000+ submissions on R18+ games
The recent review (EFA and AusGamers’ submission is here) on the introduction of an R18+ rating has apparently received more than 55,000 submissions from Australians interested in this issue. This sort of turnout is incredible – several orders of magnitude higher than the regular response rate to Government reviews. I want to extend our particular thanks to Grow up Austrlaia and EBGames for leading the campaign – particularly by providing…
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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.