Search hit: court orders massive fine against Google
The world's biggest search provider will face a substantial penalty for breaking Australia's competition laws, a court has ruled, after doing deals with telcos.
litigation and regulation
Embryo bungle earns IVF giant new licence conditions
A state watchdog has slapped a major IVF clinic with conditions for it to continue operating, after a patient was mistakenly implanted with her own embryo.
Ready or not, social media ban demands a family plan
Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16 is imminent but the details of its rollout and enforcement remain fuzzy.
WiseTech cops first strike on pay as probe continues
An impassioned speech from an Australian technology mogul wasn't enough to woo shareholders into approving a corporate pay deal after a year of controversy.
Snap decision: another social app issues age warnings
Snapchat is the latest social media app to issue warnings to young Australian users and will ask thousands of people to verify their age.
Social media ban lacks teeth, former executive warns
Social media giants earning billions in revenue will view penalties under Australia's ban for under-16s as "peanuts", a former Facebook executive says.
Collect ’em all: call for widespread battery recycling
Australia's voluntary battery recycling scheme will be allowed to continue but with limited uptake, the public could benefit if more devices were collected.
Microsoft apologises for AI confusion, offers refunds
A tech giant will offer refunds to millions of its Australian users over what it calls unclear pricing for access to its artificial intelligence tool.
‘Slam dunk’: Microsoft sued for misleading Aussie users
Microsoft might have misled millions of Australian customers when it sent emails about higher fees for its flagship AI assistant.
Australia falling behind as experts call for AI urgency
The juice will be worth the squeeze for workers and businesses if Australia quickly and carefully forges on with artificial intelligence, industry figures say.
Appliance reliance: consumers want repairability labels
Most Australians want to know how long they can expect expensive appliances to work and whether they can be repaired easily, a study shows.
Ratings system to help drivers navigate road safety
How safe are the roads you regularly travel? A free online tool ranks most major arterial roads out of five stars and its maker plans to expand it.
Taking the wheel: drivers may soon supervise their cars
Self-driving cars are being tested on Australian roads but motorists and experts are divided about whether they will drive greater safety or greater problems.
Why Australian AI regulation could be a legal patchwork
Artificial intelligence may not be governed by a single, dedicated law in Australia but experts say changes to several existing laws could offer protection.
Aussie workers sceptical of AI coming for their jobs
A slim majority of workers believe the government can be trusted to regulate artificial intelligence and most think it will augment rather than replace jobs.
Charge ahead: road taxes may be closer than they appear
A road user charge targeting electric vehicle drivers is gaining widespread approval but how it will work and when it will arrive remains up for debate.
Google cops $55m fine for search engine deals on phones
Google engaged in anti-competitive behaviour when it asked telcos to install only its search engine on phones, Australia's competition watchdog says.
Australia’s frustration with motor insurance grows
Australia's financial product watchdog continues to grapple with a mountain of complaints, with car insurance the leading cause of consumer consternation.
Greenwashing lawsuit to test ‘overstated’ gas claims
Claims about the future of renewable gas will be tested in Federal Court after the competition regulator launched its biggest greenwashing lawsuit to date.
Australian shares hit record close as bank stocks surge
Banks and energy stocks have helped lift the local bourse to record highs, but continued growth will hinge on the outcome of US-China trade talks.
Aussies prompt politicians for real action on AI rules
More than two-in-three Australians want restrictions on artificial intelligence technology, but the issue has not been raised in election campaigning.
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
Phone and internet users will be given more details when their services drop out under rules imposed on telecommunication providers.
State oversight of flailing Star’s casino extended
Casino operator Star Entertainment has accepted a watchdog needs to continue overseeing its tables in Sydney amid financial woes and remediation works.
Qantas shares take off on strong first-half result
Qantas says it has learned its lessons after posting a strong return to form with a nearly $1.4 billion first-half underlying profit after tax.
Aussie TikTok users brace as clock ticks down to US ban
An exodus to other Chinese apps, a jump in prominence but a dive in content: speculation is raging over what a US TikTok ban will mean for its Aussie users.
Fists, knives, guns: why Bunnings turned to facial data
Lowest prices were just the beginning for hundreds of thousands of Australians whose facial data was recorded by Bunnings without their consent.
Tough penalties under laws to tame tobacco turf war
Victoria will become the last Australian state to make businesses have a licence to sell tobacco, but the police boss says laws won't end a turf war overnight.
Electric cars could keep lights on in Australian homes
The batteries inside electric cars could be used to power households in Australia before the end of the year after the release of technological standards.
Tobacco licensing laws smoulder as parties fire up
The Victorian government has denied dragging its feet on legislation to tackle tit-for-tat tobacco firebombings despite blocking a licensing scheme bill.
Ban on landlords evicting tenants for no good reason
Tenants would no longer be evicted without a valid reason and face softer penalties for breaking leases in reforms aimed at making life easier for renters.
Read null about it: privacy changes could bury news
Changes to Australian privacy laws could open an avenue for powerful people to shut down news coverage, a group has told a Senate inquiry.