News

Civil society ‘ignored’ on hacking bill inquiry

Civil society has been “completely sidelined and ignored” in the inquiry into the government’s proposed new hacking powers, after no civil or digital rights groups were invited to the...

Senate committee green light for Online Safety Act

The government’s Online Safety Bill has been given the green light by a Senate committee, paving the way for its debate in Parliament this week. In the final report,...

Feud 2.0: Google and Microsoft fight heats up

Google has returned fire at Microsoft after the Redmond-based behemoth singled out the search and advertising giant in calls for more technology and media regulation in the United States. Microsoft’s...

A Marketplace milestone that is without meaning

It is important to mark milestones and to celebrate successes. This is how most of us maintain forward momentum in important work. But when the ‘success’ is so lame...

ACCC targets Google search, browser dominance

The ACCC has begun exploring the introduction of “choice screens” in the Australian market as it tightens its focus on US search giant Google. Choice screens allow users to...

‘Part privatisation’ of VicRoads tech system criticised

The Victorian government’s decision to “part-privatise” key elements of VicRoads has been criticised by the services union, which called on the plan to be scrapped and the tech work...

Vic privacy breach of vulnerable youth data

A youth case worker stood down from a Victorian health department service provider on suspicion of accessing child pornography continued to access sensitive information about clients for months afterwards,...

Ransomware report a ‘missed opportunity’: Watts

A government advisory group’s report on ransomware calling on Australian businesses to implement basic cybersecurity practices to mitigate risks is a “missed opportunity”. The Cyber Security Strategy Industry Advisory...

Qld taskforce to drive hydrogen export capability

The Queensland government has established a panel of experts to assess and help guide the state’s sustainable hydrogen supply chain with an eye to building export capability no later...

$30m in commercial grants for manufacturing

Grants of up to $1 million are now available for Australian manufacturers looking to commercialise new manufacturing products and processes, through a new $30 million fund. Industry Minister Karen...

Pezzullo blasts ‘unconscionable’ tech giants

American technology giants’ surveillance capitalism model of exploiting the personal data of individuals is “unconscionable” and will be increasingly curbed through regulation in Australia and abroad, Home Affairs secretary...

Aust tech giants push for R&D tax ‘workshop’

Some of Australia’s largest tech companies have written to the tax office requesting a “collaborative workshop” to improve how software claims are dealt with under the research and development...

Salesforce chief calls for truce on digital platforms

Australian governments and tech platforms who are at loggerheads should take a step back and compromise, according to Salesforce Australia chief executive officer Pip Marlow, who says “stakeholder capitalism” has...

Online Safety ‘sausage’ is still getting made

The Online Safety Bill “sausage” is still being made, according to the eSafety Commissioner, with the detail about how sweeping new content and site blocking powers will be implemented...