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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Free IP and Tech law advice at QUT
The QUT Faculty of Law and Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House are running two free intellectual property and technology law advice sessions in October and November in Brisbane. Professor Brian Fitzgerald and Kylie Pappalardo from QUT Faculty of Law, in conjunction with Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH), have established an IP and Technology Law Clinic to provide free legal advice for members of the creative and technology…
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Network security interception amendments inquiry – Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into the newly introduced Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 (Cth). We recently sent our concerns about the exposure draft for this Bill to the Attorney-General’s department. At the time, we were worried that the proposed legislation provided a very broad exception to the general prohibition on interception of telecommunications. The original wording of the exposure draft would…
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Left 4 Dead 2 refused classification (banned in Australia)
Valve’s highly-anticipated sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, has just been refused classification in Australia. For more information, see IGN and Kotaku. I imagine that this will go to the Classification Review Board for appeal. This highlights the continued impact of a lack of an R18+ rating for computer games in Australia. If this decision stands, Australian adults will find it significantly more difficult to play the much anticipated zombie shooter…
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FORT Australia, More Smoke, More Mirrors
I spoke last night at the Fellowship Of the Round Table forum last night at parliament house in Sydney on the forum topic “Cyberhate? Censorship on the Internet”, as did Fiona Patten from the Australian Sex Party. Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby and Angela Conway (formerly of the Australian Family Association) were also in attendance and spoke on a different topic, entirely one of their own choosing.
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Tuesday Forum on Internet Censorship in Sydney
EFA Board Member Geordie Guy will be taking part in a forum on Internet Censorship entitled “Cyberhate? Censorship on the Internet” at NSW Parliament House tomorrow, Tuesday the 8th September at 6pm. The event is hosted by Fellowship of the Round Table: Our next Forum will be held Tuesday September 8th. again in the Jubilee Room Parliament House, at 6pm -8.30pm. The Topic – ‘Cyberhate? Censorship on the Internet‘. Each…
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ZDNet Twisted Wire interview
By Nic Suzor This week I was interviewed by Phil Dobbie for ZDNet’s Twisted Wire program. Also interviewed were Peter Coroneos from the Internet Industry Association and Adrianne Pecotic from AFACT. You can listen to the podcast (direct link (mp3)). One thing I found disturbing about this interview was AFACT’s suggestion that the law was clear and that iiNet had a clear responsibility to monitor its subscribers’ internet use and…
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.