Meta’s latest news ban an error but maybe not next time
Facebook parent company Meta has told an inquiry it did not intend to block news stories from its platforms in August, but it is keeping its options open.
internet
‘Kill switch’ considered to tackle high-risk AI
Artificial intelligence has been met with both concern and hype but government guidelines could help regulate its use in high-risk situations.
‘Let me out’: Aussies need help with subscription traps
Most Australians have struggled to cancel a subscription and some have given up entirely, a report has warned amid calls for legal reforms.
Snapchat rejects Aussie calls to raise social media age
Lifting the age limit for children on social media platforms would leave existing users adrift, Snapchat's safety head says, and should be a family decision.
Aussies want AI restrictions, though most don’t use it
Generative AI tools are a concern for a growing number of Australians, a report has found, even though only two in five have tried the technology.
Amazon tests AI for audiobooks but new rules are coming
Amazon is testing AI-generated voices for audiobooks in the absence of guidance, its executives say, as government officials reveal AI rules are in the works.
Broadband speed boosts slow NBN Co’s path to profit
More copper connections have been replaced with faster fibre over the past year, NBN Co has revealed, but the broadband boost proved expensive.
Cybersecurity worker shortage could put Aussies at risk
Australia does not have enough cybersecurity specialists to protect consumers from further data breaches, a report warns, amid calls for greater training.
A sad day for democracy … and succulent Chinese meals
The man dubbed Mr Democracy Manifest and responsible for one of Australia's most famous viral memes has died aged 82 after a battle with cancer.
Social media summit to reveal evidence for teen ban bid
A joint state government summit on social media will address its "profound" harm on young people, and inform moves to impose age restrictions.
abusive behaviour
breaking_news
computing and information technology
internet
media
regulatory policy and organisation
social issue
Tech giants on notice over ‘blindness’ to abuse content
Tech companies treat child sexual abuse content with "wilful blindness" but the online safety watchdog will soon force them to face uncomfortable truths.
Deepfake crackdown looms as ‘nudify’ apps in spotlight
The eSafety commissioner has called for more powers to tackle apps that enable image-based abuse by using artificial intelligence to undress or "nudify" women.
AI curiosity soars, but not everyone’s comfortable
More Australians are turning to artificial intelligence technology to learn new skills, a Google report shows, but others want to identify when it's being used.
‘Teething issues’ to linger after global IT outage
A senior government minister is warning it could be up to two weeks before Australia's systems return to normal after the hugely disruptive CrowdStrike outage.
Emergency meeting to determine response to tech outage
Australia remains in the "recovery stage" from a massive global tech outage as government agencies and industry representatives meet to discuss next steps.
Businesses unlikely to receive redress after IT outage
Commerce groups say that businesses hit by the global IT outage caused by CrowdStrike probably won't be compensated and should use it as a learning experience.
Why Australian news could be banned from Facebook again
Banishing Australian news content from Facebook could devastate media outlets and disadvantage audiences, an inquiry into social media has heard.
PM takes aim at ‘arrogant’ social media giants
Social media giants have been criticised by the prime minister after a Meta executive told a parliamentary inquiry their platforms hadn't harmed children.
computing and information technology
inquiry
internet
media
online
people - social issue
social issue
social issues (general)
social problems
technology (general)
Child abuse and online safety risks probed at inquiry
Lawmakers and experts in child protection policies are expected to appear at a federal social media inquiry following controversial claims by Meta.
computing and information technology
inquiry
internet
media
online
people - social issue
social issue
social issues (general)
social problems
technology (general)
Would you show Facebook your ID? The govt wants to know
A $6.5 million age-assurance technology trial will test whether it can prevent teens accessing social networks and whether adults are willing to use it.
breaking_news
business (general)
business enterprises
consumers
internet
it/computer sciences
mass media
media
online
technology (general)
Telstra, Optus end Google deals after watchdog warning
Internet behemoth Google paid Australia's top two telcos to be the default search engine on Android phones for seven years, the competition watchdog has found.
Watchdog warning ends Google deal with Telstra, Optus
Telstra and Optus have agreed to stop accepting payments from Google under deals to pre-install the tech giant's search software as default on their phones.
Young people sadder, lonelier since social media onset
Young Australians report worsening mental health since some of the most popular social media platforms entered their lives.
adult education
business (general)
employment
further education
internet
online
professional - women general
safety of citizens
Women wanted for cybersecurity course, no men allowed
One of Australia's largest cybersecurity organisations is launching a training course just for women as research shows they make up only one in five workers.
Considering how to ‘force’ Meta to pay for news
Laws that would force Facebook to show and pay for Australian news, as well as tax changes, are being considered by the government, an inquiry has revealed.
computing and information technology
consumers
internet
online
politics (general)
science and technology
social issue
social issues (general)
social problems
technology (general)
Lies, bad ads, no rules – social media under scrutiny
Academics at six universities are teaming up to create a national body to investigate online misinformation, social media risks and missing regulations.
Why all smartphones are adding artificial intelligence
Apple has revealed plans to put ChatGPT in iPhones and, with Google and Samsung embracing AI tools, experts say they will soon be ubiquitous.
Student AI deepfake images reflective of porn crisis
Pornography is driving bad behaviour in Australian schools with an artificial intelligence deepfake scandal reflective of a crisis, experts have warned.
Voters want a ban on AI election ads to stop deepfakes
Most Australians worry artificial intelligence technology will be used to mislead voters and would like to see it banned from political ads.
children
identification technology
internet
politics
pornography
social issue
telecommunication service
Safeguards needed to police fake porn generation apps
Some phone apps and websites have little to no protections to stop people from using AI-image generation to create porn from photos without a person's consent.
Australia unites against Musk to take down terror posts
Politicians of all stripes have chastised social media giant X and billionaire owner Elon Musk for fighting an order to remove graphic content after a stabbing.