Online gaming giants told to lift safety standards
Some major tech companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online, the eSafety Commission warns as it threatens further penalties.
computing and information technology
Nation-first inquiry to probe impacts of AI ‘genie’
Severe consequences and big opportunities are at stake as Australia's first major inquiry into the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence begins.
Indigenous grants to fight online and AI-powered abuse
Programs led by First Nations people and aimed at preventing online abuse have been given priority funding by a grants process run by the eSafety Commissioner.
‘They’ve had time’: warning on AI self regulation
AI companies have had ample time to police themselves and now the days of self-regulation are over, the eSafety Commissioner is warning.
Warning Medicare breach is no excuse to burn AI bridges
Labor has been warned Australia's cyber safety is more at risk if it targets an AI company that unknowingly hacked a government website.
China and US agree to set up a new AI safety channel
The US and China will work together on AI security and have agreed to continue talks on reducing tariffs following President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington.
Canberra mulls criminal charges over Medicare AI hack
Australia's current laws are ill-equipped to go after OpenAI for letting one of its agents go rogue and hack a Medicare website, a legal expert says.
‘AI could be a risk to humanity’: company CEOs warn UN
The heads of major artificial intelligence firms have pleaded with the United Nations to set controls over the burgeoning technology.
‘I will heal’: deepfake porn survivor’s courageous vow
The perpetrator at the centre of Australia's first deepfake pornography prosecution dehumanised a teenage girl and should be jailed, a court has been told.
How Australia will sell its bid for a UN security seat
Social media reform and climate efforts in the Pacific will be cited as part of Australia's push for a two-year stint on the United Nations Security Council.
PM urges US tech giants to compete on online safety
Anthony Albanese is set to meet with former Apple executive Tim Cook to discuss internet safety measures for young people ahead of a push at the United Nations.
‘Congratulations!’ AI tells user mulling assisted death
A senior Liberal MP has recalled the troubling encounter his terminally ill constituent had with an AI chatbot during an inquiry into the emergent technology.
Data centres power up debate on environmental red tape
Concerns about how to power data centres are at the fore as the clock ticks for hold-out jurisdictions to agree to take on environmental assessments.
Boom or bust? Farmers fear energy and water data drain
A state government and regional council want to power full steam ahead with a new data centre, but local farmers worry about being left behind.
Caution on copyright changes as Claude comes to town
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to move carefully on any changes to copyright and AI training as another tech giant signs a deal in Australia.
Murderer’s gag order lifted after ‘troubling’ AI error
Susan Neill-Fraser has spoken publicly for the first time in more than a decade after a court ruled a gag order based on inaccurate AI information was invalid.
Coalition slams ‘Big Brother’ social media reform bill
The opposition is declaring the government's digital duty-of-care laws the "Big Brother bill", doubling down on its stance to block the reforms in parliament.
OpenAI won’t do 2026 IPO, extinction risk unacceptable
OpenAI boss Sam Altman has ruled out the company going public in 2026, saying the ten per cent chance of AI causing human extinction is "unacceptable".
‘Ashamed’: coalition cops blast for social media stance
The coalition's rivals are accusing it of prioritising political gain over laws that would protect Australian children on social media.
US shoots across PM’s bow on big tech ‘extortion’
The White House has bristled over the government's planned crackdown on social media algorithms as the prime minister's trip to the United States looms.
AI boom forecast as Australia’s biggest bonanza yet
The economic benefits of AI adoption are beginning to flow in Australia, with about 15 per cent of tasks and occupations set to be replaced by 2060.
Call to embed algorithm opt-in for social ‘cesspit’
The Greens are vowing to hold back laws to strengthen Australia's under-16s social media ban until the government introduces digital duty-of-care measures.
Algorithm opt-out plan faces major political hurdles
People will be empowered to limit algorithms' influence under draft laws, but the changes could struggle to pass the upper house.
Investors undervaluing the life-changing power of AI
A high-profile futurist praises Australia's open mind to technology but says investors fail to appreciate the transformative power of artificial intelligence.
‘Shape-shifting’: social algorithm opt-out not enough
Social media reforms must be watertight or teenagers risk seeing more sexual, radical content from algorithms, an advocate has warned.
‘Frightens me’: school deepfake victims reveal big toll
A former software developer has been jailed for sending deepfake images of women and girls to their schools, unleashing a crippling toll on the victims.
Man guilty over AI deepfake nude images of schoolgirls
A man told police it was "fun" to use AI to change public photos of girls and adult education staff into nude images before emailing the results to the victims.
‘No carve-out’: Labor clarifies data centre energy deal
Queensland and the NT will be able to power AI data centres with coal and gas, but ministers want guarantees that energy prices won't rise as a result.
Premier plays down data centre impact on power prices
Two Australian jurisdictions will be able to power their AI data centres with coal and gas, despite fears it could lead to an increase in power prices.
Gun licenses limited to citizens in firearms overhaul
State and territory leaders have signed on to the first overhaul of national firearm rules in almost a decade, including outlawing 3D-printed guns.
‘We have buy-in’: PM talks up national unity over AI
A national agreement on guidelines for AI data centres is edging closer after key talks, even though two governments continue to criticise the plan.