Australians are expected to spend too much time managing internet privacy
A new report from the Consumer Policy Research Centre has found that it takes Australians half an hour each day to manage privacy settings online. The findings in the report “show that the ‘notification and consent’ protections we currently have in Australia just aren’t workable. They leave Australians consenting once to companies and having their data used in ways they can’t possibly engage with or understand.”
As technology distorts information, Pacific governments and media must cooperate
Australia recently announced an Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy to boost Pacific access to Australian content and enhance engagement through media training and exchanges. This strategy highlights the need for stronger media-government collaboration to build trust and address the impact of technological advances on regional societies. Ongoing dialogue, training and support will be crucial to maintaining resilience against online harms and ensuring that, in the long term, the public will always have someone to trust online.
Telstra cops $1.5m fine after breaching scam rules
Australian telco giant Telstra has paid a $1,551,000 fine after an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found it had failed to implement customer ID authentication processes. According to the ACMA investigation, the failure led to “168,000 high-risk customer interactions” during password reset and SIM-swapping requests.
Australia’s inaction as Chinese companies enable Russia’s aggression
Russia's assault on Ukraine continues unabated, with recent missile strikes causing devastation, including at the largest children's hospital. While Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the attacks, the Albanese government's response remains inadequate, especially given China's significant support for Russia. To truly support Ukraine, Australia must impose sanctions on Chinese companies aiding Russia, despite potential risks to its own trade relations with China.
Neo-Nazi's social media suspension is only a drop in the ocean against extremism, warn experts
X recently suspended known Australian neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell from its platform. A campaign he set up raising money for a whites-only community in regional Victoria has also been suspended on US fundraising website GiveSendGo. While experts say this is a positive step, there is still a long way to go to rid social media platforms of violent extremism and far right ideologies.
Australia and Japan should consider a security division-of-labour in the Pacific
Tokyo will soon host the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM), where Australia should affirm Japan’s contributions to Pacific stability and discuss regional defense coordination with Pacific leaders. Japan's consistent engagement with the Pacific, highlighted through PALM meetings since 1997, now includes a focus on security concerns, reflecting the free and open Indo-Pacific concept. As Japan expands its security assistance in the region, including through mechanisms like Official Security Assistance (OSA), Australian ministers should use PALM10 to advance conversations on coordinated security efforts and address challenges posed by China's military build-up.
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