Insights

Digital Bytes – cyber, privacy, AI & data update

While all eyes have been on the recent introduction of the privacy reform Bill to Parliament, there have been a number of other updates that continue to inform the shifting patterns of opportunity,...

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Australian “social media” age restrictions a possibility with South Australia championing reform

On 8 September 2024, the Honourable Robert French AC released the ‘Report of the Independent Legal Examination into Banning Children’s Access to Social Media’ (French Review) which includes a...

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Privacy law reforms unveiled in Canberra

The Government has tabled in Parliament a Bill containing 23 of the 25 privacy reform proposals agreed to by the Government. A large number of “agreed in principle” reforms have been deferred to a...

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Australian artificial intelligence regulation: a work in progress

Regulators are grappling with the challenges posed by AI, and where to strike the regulatory balance. Submissions to the Australian Senate Committee tasked to consider AI reveal some of the key...

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Digital Bytes – cyber, privacy & data update

Welcome to Digital Bytes, our latest quarterly update on current developments in cyber, privacy and data governance.

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AIC v Medibank – Concise Statement released by OAIC

A Concise Statement released by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) this week provides important insights into the OAIC’s security expectations in relation to large...

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Tech M&A – what are the key deal risks?

Despite macroeconomic uncertainty and a slowdown in leveraged buyouts, M&A activity continues to play a critical role in unlocking value in the tech industry. In this article, we discuss four key...

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Australian Government announces overhaul of Privacy Act and doxxing reforms

The Australian Government has announced that it will bring forward legislation to address doxxing in August 2024. It has not released information on what those reforms will cover. Options...

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Digital Bytes – cyber, privacy & data update

2024 is off to brisk start in the cyber, privacy and data space – regulatory developments in cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI) continue at pace.

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Payment times reports due 31 March 2024

An increase in enforcement action by the Regulator under the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 (Cth) (PTR Act) has been happening over the last 12 months. Companies covered as reporting entities...

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Does failure to investigate amount to copyright infringement authorisation? High Court has final say

The High Court unanimously overturned a 2022 Full Court decision and found that a failure to investigate third-party allegations of copyright infringement by a contractor does not automatically...

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Forensic investigation reports: are they privileged? Robertson v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd

The Federal Court of Australia has held that an expert forensic investigation report prepared by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte) for Optus in the aftermath of its September 2022 cyber attack...

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Digital Bytes – cyber, privacy & data update

Developments in cyber, privacy and data continue to evolve rapidly, so we’ve summarised highlights from the past three months to give you a whirlwind tour of the most significant updates.

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Personal property securities get a makeover

After more than ten years of operation, the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA) and the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) are in line for a major overhaul.

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Lessons from the first Tribunal decision on a merger authorisation

In its first review of a merger authorisation application since the current regime came into effect in 2017, the Australian Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) has upheld the Australian Competition and...

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Digital Bytes – cyber, privacy & data update

While we await progress on the broad-reaching reforms to Australia’s Privacy Act proposed in the Attorney-General’s Review Report published in February 2023, there are plenty of other developments...

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Do your international arrangements with intangible assets pass the test?

The current scrutiny of the Australian tax outcomes relating to the intangible assets of international groups continues. On 17 May 2023, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued Practical...

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Privacy Act Review Report – comprehensive changes are on the way

On 16 February 2023, the Attorney-General’s Department released its much-anticipated Final Report (Report) on the Review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). The Report is the culmination...

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Australian content quotas on the horizon for streaming platforms

On Monday 30 January 2023, the Commonwealth government unveiled its plans for the ‘Revive’ National Cultural Policy. As a part of the policy’s fifth pillar, ‘Engaging the Audience’, new...

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What you need to know about Australia’s privacy reforms

In the wake of the recent Optus and Medibank data breaches, the Government has confirmed its commitment to privacy and data security reform by proposing tougher penalties for serious or repeated...

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Privacy and cyber security imperatives – reactions to and lessons from the Optus data breach

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Privacy reforms for a digital age

The government has delivered the next step in the ongoing Privacy Act Review by releasing the exposure draft of the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill...

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Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Act 2021 – now in force

On 9 August 2021, the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No.1) Bill 2021 finally passed the Senate, with amendments.

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Electronic execution and online meetings – permanent reforms are on the way

On 25 June 2021, Commonwealth Treasury issued an exposure draft of legislation to make permanent reforms to the Corporations Act in relation to electronic execution of documents and online meetings...

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Review 2019

With significant regulatory change coming into effect the spotlight is staying firmly on culture, ethics and regulatory compliance. An organisation’s social licence to operate remains a priority...

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