We at APF, together with our colleagues from Electronic Frontiers Australia, have numerous substantive concerns and issues concerning the proposed Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026 (“Privacy Amendment Bill”), in particular its major omissions and the speed with which the government is trying to push this legislation through by what has the characteristics of stifling examination and public debate by providing limited time for drafting submissions and placing a 1,000 word cap on submissions. As such, both EFA and the APF feel that given the importance and criticality of getting privacy reform right, we feel compelled to ensure our detailed views are made available to the public and placed on the record in toto, notwithstanding the coercive control displayed in the submission guidelines. Read More
Surfveillance: Swellnet’s SurfCam at Winki Pop
In collaboration with the SurfRider Foundation Surf Coast Branch, Australian Privacy Foundation (APF) Vice-Chair Dr Monique Mann, and APF Surveillance Committee member Dr Ian Warren, have prepared a report that examines a SurfCam that is owned and operated by Swellnet PTY LTD, and is fixed to a private residence on the cliffs overlooking the Bells Beach Surfing Recreational Reserve (BBSRR) on the Surf Coast of Victoria. SurfCams provide surfers with the ability to remotely view surfing conditions and decide whether, when, and where to go surfing. They have the potential to create impacts across social, environmental, economic, and human rights domains. This analysis shows where legal and regulatory reform could occur to regulate the surveillance of public land for private commercial gain. We outline recommendations and proposals for removal of the camera, regulatory reform, and future research. Read More