Plea for action over death of six kids in protection
Six children connected to Victoria's child protection system have died in the last three months, sparking a plea for more action to protect vulnerable kids.
social issues (general)
Warnings of deadly consequences over rural black spots
Rural residents have revealed difficulties in reaching triple-zero in moments of crisis, as the federal government reviews regional telecommunications.
Women harnessing power of Indigenous matriarchy
A program re-engaging girls in school through storytelling and a 'Linkedin' for the Indigenous community have received boosts from a dedicated women's fund.
Adults only: online codes to limit porn, gaming access
Australian internet users will have their age tested before they can access some gaming and pornographic websites under wide-ranging online safety proposals.
‘Like the Opera House’: the tiny halls that loom large
Country halls remain at the heart of small towns in times of both celebration and disaster, but their longevity largely depends on the kindness of locals.
Victims of crime stand on opposite sides of politics
Two families were torn apart when their kids were killed in car crashes but they now stand on opposite sides of politics ahead of the Queensland election.
Banning kids from social media could cause greater harm
Mental health experts don't support proposals to ban children from accessing social media and are warning it could have unintended consequences.
Retail trade springs back after warmer weather
A hotter-than-average August and Father's Day sales has led to a spike in retail sales, with more people taking advantage of the outdoors.
X Corp says Twitter does not exist, fines should vanish
American legal experts have taken the stand in Federal Court as lawyers for the social network known as X argue it should not have to pay Twitter's fines.
Social media misinformation to be policed by watchdog
The communications watchdog will be given new powers to crack down on misinformation on digital platforms under proposed federal laws.
Unlikely allies gather to call full-time on betting ads
A Labor minister and a Liberal backbencher have called for a complete ban on gambling advertising as the government remains tight-lipped on its policy.
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.
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.
children
computing and information technology
online
parent and child
politics (general)
safety of citizens
science and technology
social issue
social issues (general)
social problems
technology (general)
Photos of Aussie kids scraped, used by popular AI tool
Child safety advocates have called for greater online privacy protections after Human Rights Watch identified photos of young Australians in an AI dataset.
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.
Publisher warns of Meta ‘blackmail’ on news media code
Major news outlets accuse Facebook's parent company of daring the government to take action against it, and warn newspapers could close if it fails to act.
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.
Push for all-in response after deepfake porn shock
The traumatising consequences of non-consensual AI porn used against school girls have come to the front of the national conscience - so what's being done?
Community confidence in police falls post-pandemic
Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski says he is concerned that public confidence in the law is "sharply down" since the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM, Dutton condemn Greens on electorate office protests
Major parties have united in attacking the Greens for stoking tensions on the Middle East conflict after electorate offices have been subject to protests.
Social media giants told to pay price, play by rules
For years, social media companies have been accused of acting above regulation but a top media boss says they must play by the same rules as everyone else.
Minister accused of inciting cyberbullying over post
Queensland's health minister has been accused by the opposition of inciting cyberbullying over a social media post regarding a parliamentary jibe.
First Nations people face racism surge after voice vote
First Nations people have been experiencing increased racism after Australians voted against enshrining an Indigenous voice into the constitution.
TikTok says it boosts economy by $1.1b amid ban threat
TikTok delivers a significant economic boost to the Australian economy, a report has found, in what experts say is an attempt to prove its worth.
‘Enough’: community rage over violence against women
Members of a community connected through the tragedies of three women allegedly murdered by men have come together to express their grief, solidarity and rage.
computing and information technology
consumer issue - lifestyle and leisure
news media
science and technology
social issue
social issues (general)
technology (general)
Concerns over Meta’s plan to take news out of News Feed
Social media users, as well as small and specialised news outlets, could be the big losers from Meta's plan to remove more news from Facebook, experts say.
Consumer advocates call for ban on ‘green’ weasel words
Vague and misleading marketing terms like 'for the planet' should be banned in Australia, according to a report analysing green claims in social media ads.
Banking ‘bullies’ leave vulnerable people open to scams
Post offices are increasingly filling the void when rural banks shut down, but they're not always paid for their services, a Senate inquiry has been told.
Social housing data to become available in Queensland
Quarterly data on social and affordable housing will become publicly available in Queensland after the state government committed to its release.
Teen binge drinking rate down ahead of schoolies events
A federal government study has found a 15 per cent decrease in 14 to 24-year-olds participating in binge drinking over the past 12 months.