In an era where tech titans wield unprecedented power and influence, Australia’s track record on technology policy has been woefully disappointing. Despite the rapid pace of digital transformation reshaping nearly every facet of society, the current government’s efforts to contend with these seismic shifts have largely fallen flat.
Missteps on Misinformation
Rampant online misinformation has become a top concern for democracies worldwide, with many believing it played a pivotal role in swaying Australia’s recent Voice referendum. Yet the government’s attempts to combat this scourge have been baffling at best.
An initial draft bill to counter misinformation was met with fierce criticism over its overly broad definitions and leniency toward mainstream media. Rather than thoughtfully addressing these valid concerns, officials hastily revised the legislation before scrapping it entirely, leaving a critical issue unresolved.
Privacy Reform Left Unfinished
Australia’s outdated privacy laws have also been ripe for overhaul, with the nation’s Privacy Act predating the web itself. The devastating 2022 Optus data breach should have served as a long-overdue catalyst for comprehensive reform.
Instead, lawmakers settled for a functionally flaccid bill focused solely on increasing fines for non-compliance while neglecting substantive changes to better protect citizens. More impactful proposals aimed at reining in corporate data collection and building a safer digital future were sidelined indefinitely.
The real story is the swathe of other, more significant and impactful privacy reform proposals that were left to languish on the sidelines.
– Samantha Floreani, digital rights activist
Misguided Social Media Crackdown
The government’s flagship tech policy, a ban on social media for teens, epitomizes misguided policymaking. Officials blatantly ignored warnings from a broad coalition of experts across youth wellbeing, digital rights, and academia.
- Over 140 scholars and 20 civil society groups voiced grave concerns
- Doubt from the eSafety Commissioner and Human Rights Commissioner went unheeded
In a theatrical display of faux public engagement, citizens were allotted a mere 24 hours to provide feedback on the legislation. It was a pointless exercise – the parliamentary committee could not have possibly reviewed the 15,000 submissions before rubber-stamping the bill mere days later.
A Lackluster Legacy
Other questionable moves round out a disappointing tech policy record:
- Confiscating phones from immigration detainees, severing vital connections and accountability
- Tepid moves on AI regulation as the technology rapidly advances
- Rushed criminalization of doxing without due consideration
- Stalling much-needed improvements to Australia’s online safety regime
In fairness, the preceding Coalition government fared no better, ushering in alarming surveillance overreach, failed anti-encryption and anti-trolling laws. But past failures don’t excuse present shortcomings.
As the tech industry’s clout grows unabated, Australia finds itself in desperate need of leaders willing to meaningfully engage with research and craft human-centered policies for the digital age. The alternative – more of the same lackluster efforts and actively dangerous legislation – is a bleak prospect that Australians can ill afford.
