Let’s face it, we’ll be no safer with a national facial recognition database

A commitment to share the biometric data of most Australians – including your driving licence photo – agreed at Thursday’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting will result in a further erosion of our privacy. That sharing is not necessary. It will be costly. But will it save us from terrorism? Not all, although it […]

Forced negotiations and industry codes won’t stop illegal downloads

This article, by Nicolas Suzor and Eleanor Angel from Queensland University of Technology was originally published on The Conversation on 11th December 2014. Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced yesterday that they expect internet service providers (ISPs) to work with copyright owners to help police infringement. ISPs will have to agree to a […]

Data Retention a boon for Copyright Trolls

As AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin confirmed to a press conference in Canberra yesterday, mandatory data retention will include data that will enable copyright holders to chase people they believe have infringed their copyright. Communications Minister Turnbull tried to play this down, saying, “They do this pretty much in real-time, so the two year holding of data […]

EFA calls for public inclusion in any upcoming NBN review

New Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull, MP, yesterday held a media conference (see also the official media statement) in which he announced the new NBN Co interim statement of expectations. In the conference Mr Turnbull reiterated that the government will institute a strategic review of the NBN. Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) calls on Mr Turnbull to include […]

NBN petition: Saga Continues as Turnbull attacks lecturer and EFA Board Member

Electronic Frontiers Australia today supports Board Member and University of Queensland lecturer Dr. Sean Rintel’s argument for increased public consultation in the upcoming NBN strategic review in the face of criticism from Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull. Dr. Rintel made his argument in a piece for the The Conversation discussing the recent online petition calling […]