Without safeguards that protect end-to-end encryption and privacy, the standards will leave users less safe online, contrary to their goal. Dear Commissioner Inman Grant,We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, urge you to protect the privacy and security of communications and cloud file storage for internet users. The eSafety Commissioner has proposed two draft industry standards (1) under the Online Safety Act. Australia is a leader in the field of online safety policy making, and this position comes with responsibility in shaping the norms and direction of international internet governance and regulation. 5) See ‘Updated Position Statement: End-to-end encryption ,’ October 2023 https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/End-to-end-encryption-position-statement-oct2023.pdf; and ‘Australia releases new online safety standards to tackle terror and child sexual abuse content,’ The Guardian, 20 November 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/20/australia-esafety-standards-new-2023-targets-child-content-terrorism-detection.

Source: The Guardian December 19, 2023 22:01 UTC