Upcoming Event in Brisbane – Attacks on Encryption: Privacy, Civil Society and the Surveillance State

On Thursday October 5th, join the Australian Privacy Foundation, Digital Rights Watch Australia, Future Wise, and the QUT Crime and Justice Research Centre at ThoughtWorks Brisbane office to discuss ‘Attacks on Encryption: Privacy, Civil Society, and the Surveillance State.’

The Australian Government has announced it will pursue new powers to access encrypted communications. At present, it is unclear if Australia’s laws will require so-called backdoor vulnerabilities to be built into messaging applications. They could compel access via decryption keys or they might enable remote access to devices for interception of communications “at the ends.”

There are wide ranging privacy and information security concerns in relation to these proposed new laws.

This event will bring together a range of experts to have a critical conversation about surveillance politics, international dimensions of privacy law, the contested moral legitimacy of encryption backdoors, encryption for journalists and current civil society campaigns in this area.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Former Senator Mr Scott Ludlam: Surveillance politics

  • Dr Angela Daly, Digital Rights Watch Australia and QUT Law: Legal dimensions of the global #waronmaths

  • Mr Justin Clacherty, Redfish Group, Australian Privacy Foundation, and Future Wise: Government attacks on encryption and civil society coalition campaigns

  • Mr Robin Doherty, ThoughtWorks and Hack for Privacy and Mr Eru Penkman, ThoughtWorks and brisSafety: How would backdoors actually operate in practice?

  • Dr Brenda Moon, QUT Digital Media Research Centre and Mr Felix Münch, PhD Candidate QUT Digital Media Research Centre: Encryption for journalists

  • Mr Michael Wilson, QUT Justice PhD Candidate: The contested moral legitimacy of encryption ‘backdoors’

  • Discussant: Mr Phil Green, QLD Privacy Commissioner

The event will be live streamed for those interested and unable to join in person. Further details about remote links, as well as full abstracts and speaker bios, will follow at a later date.

Arrive at 17:30 for food, drinks and networking with presentations commencing at 18:00 sharp.

RSVP for this event on Eventbrite. Space is limited, so make sure you register early.

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