Join the call for a Digital Platform Ombudsman - we all deserve real support when things go wrong online

"Right now, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) cannot resolve complaints about digital platforms and online services – no one can. We are calling on the Australian Government to expand the TIO into a Communications Ombudsman, to resolve complaints about both telco and digital platforms.

"By sharing your story, we can build the case for change and show the Australian Government that we need strong consumer safeguards online. Join the call today, and help win a fair, independent digital platforms ombudsman."

https://www.tio.com.au/form/join-digital-platform-ombudsman

#digitalrights #electronicfrontiersaustralia

#FixOurFeeds is a movement I can get behind.

"We’re calling on the Australian Government to act, and introduce an opt-in feature for social media algorithms so we can bring affirmative consent to our screens, and turn our feeds on and off at will."

https://www.teachusconsent.com/fix-our-feeds

#facebook #socialmedia #ageverification #auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

Where do the major parties sit on digital rights this election cycle? Check out the EFA Election Scorecard 2025.

We take a look at some key policies, including supporting reform on #privacy legislation and increased powers for the commissioner, #DigitalID, unnecessary identity verification, social media minimum age and the telco interception bill.

What else do you want to see from our elected representatives with regards to your rights in the digital space? Let us know in the comments.

https://efa.org.au/2025-federal-election-policy-scorecard/

#auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

Authorised by John Pane, EFA, Melbourne.

Whitewashing, greenwashing, pinkwashing, and now we're seeing #cyberwashing.

We're increasingly seeing corporations make bold, exaggerated and misleading claims around security and privacy.

Monash University has released a report saying a properly functioning legislative framework is the fix. Tranche II of the #Privacy Act reform package will help fix this issue.

Contact your MP and Senators and demand delivery of these much needed reforms.

https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members

#auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

A U.S. judge has overturned an Arkansas law that required #ageverification from all users for online safety citing restrictions on protected speech.

The law "was so vague it was unclear which social networks the law would cover". Sound familiar? The Online Safety Amendment in Australia is quite vague too, potentially applying to any service that allows communication between users. The Australian Communications Minister proposed a "sweetheart deal" for YouTube exempting it from the rules (perhaps YouTube and Google already know enough about their users...)

What impact will such legislation have on the Fediverse? EFA would like to see a broad exemption for digital communities that are not profit-based to avoid any chilling effects on Australian communities and operators, among other exemptions and wider concerns with regards to the legislation.

Australia does not have protected speech like the U.S. does, but we can draw on experiences from other countries and pay attention to both safety and human rights concerns.

https://gizmodo.com/arkansas-judge-kills-social-media-age-verification-law-says-it-violates-the-first-amendment-2000583628

#privacy #esafety #electronicfrontiersaustralia

EFA is calling for urgent action on #AI safety after the government has paused its plans on mandatory AI regulatory guardrails.

AI safety and risk guardrails belong in law which benefits everyone by providing certainty to business and protecting the public.

https://efa.org.au/efa-calls-for-urgent-legislative-action-on-ai-safety-amidst-global-deregulation-trends/

#aisafety #auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

Today I interacted with a government service that requires users to have #myID to use digitally, or alternatively, mail in a letter. They spell out the requirement to have the app installed on an iPhone or Google Play-capable phone.

Of course the devil is in the details. Maybe I can find an Android APK online, maybe I can get that APK to work on my non-Googled phone if it doesn't rely on Google Play Services, and maybe I won't be subject to a supply chain attack in the process.

IMO it's a really concerning direction for government departments to require Google or Apple accounts for digital interaction. Real standards are company-neutral. The government need to embrace the free and open web and related standards instead of operating exclusively in the walled gardens of Big Tech.

#auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

(Reposting from a comment)

The #eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, has largely had a career in Big Tech prior to her current appointment, and as such, a Big Tech view of the world.

Big Tech would love to make users entirely reliant on platforms for perceived safety and #privacy. (That is using a relatively narrow definition of both privacy and safety which doesn't include "privacy and safety from my provider"). Julie Inman-Grant's policy recommendations have been consistent with Big Tech's vision of giving platforms more control.

eSafety needs to be abolished or very significantly reformed. Users need more control over their social media experience, not less.

#auspol #electronicfrontiersaustralia

The biggest thing we want from tech giants is control over our communication, not age/identity verification.

More and more I think back to the 2023 Reddit API controversy, that this is what we should demand of all of our social media platforms. Third party clients should be normal. People should be able to opt out or in of algorithmic content. Content warnings should be provided so people can opt out or in of content they may not want to see.

This won't solve all internet and social media harm, but giving people the tools to control their own experience online is the first step.

#auspol #privacy #electronicfrontiersaustralia #ageverfication

My submission #213 on the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society is now publicly available on aph.gov.au

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Social_Media/SocialMedia/Submissions

Also on my website:

https://roffey.au/static/submission-social-media-2024.pdf

tl;dr the Australian government should drop this age verification business and look at other ways to protect Australians against social media companies, like cracking down on data brokers, forcing interoperability so third party clients can be properly developed, making social media sites and direct controls for toggling Suggested Content, and review agencies that exclusively delivery content with sites like Facebook.

#auspol #privacy #ageverification #electronicfrontiersaustralia #esafety