Communications - Consumers' Federation of Australia

9 July , 2018

New research suggests leading tech companies are making it difficult for users to opt of out sharing personal data

New research published today by Consumers International‘s member the Norwegian Consumer Council suggests that leading tech companies are making difficult for consumers to opt out of sharing their personal data using a variety of design techniques and default settings. Despite the introduction of the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came in to force in…

28 June , 2018

Privacy and data security in customer owned banking institutions

The Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee has recently conducted a review of customer owned banking institutions’ compliance with privacy obligations under Section D23 and Key Promise 8 of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code). A copy of the report can be found at here. Privacy own motion inquiry As Australia moves…

27 June , 2018

ACMA invites consumer reps to join key telco forum

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) invites applications from consumer organisations to join its key telco consumer advisory group—the Consumer Consultative Forum (CCF). ‘Communications services are increasingly central to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing. We want to better understand the consumers’ needs in the contemporary and future communications environment’ ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin. The…

13 June , 2018

ACCAN’s Analysis of NBN Co’s recently announced Pricing Changes

NBN Co has recently announced changes to wholesale prices charged to retail service providers (RSPs) from October 2018. These changes mean consumers can expect to pay higher prices to access NBN services. At the same time consumers can expect to have an improved experience as congestion in the network is addressed through greater dedication of…

10 June , 2018

ACMA rules kick in on telco complaints

Telco consumers can expect a better complaints-handling experience under a new industry standard and record-keeping rules announced today by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This is the first tranche of new rules announced by the ACMA in December 2017 to improve consumers’ experience in migrating to the National Broadband Network (NBN). The ACMA’s actions follow its industry information-gathering exercise and its…

15 May , 2018

Don’t play around with children’s online safety

Many Internet connected children’s products have weak security as well as invasive data collection and privacy features. There is currently no effective regulation of these products, and little consumer understanding of how they function or their faults. Read more on the Consumers International website here and the video Huggybug Your Family Today’: Don’t play around with children’s online…

3 May , 2018

Internet of things: privacy and consumers

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the rapidly expanding network of devices, physical objects, services and applications that communicate over the internet. Connected devices number in the billions today, and they transmit data without device owners knowing when or how that happens. This is a big issue for consumers as identified in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit…

17 April , 2018

Continuing rise in telco complaints shows need for urgent reforms

ACCAN is alarmed that complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) have increased by 28.7 percent in the six months to December 2017, compared to the same time the previous year. The peak Australian telecommunications consumer body says the TIO’s latest statistics reinforce the need for urgent industry action to put customers first. “Continuing high numbers of complaints shine a…

17 April , 2018

Government announces telecommunications Consumer Safeguards Review

The Turnbull Government has released the terms of reference for a review into consumer safeguards in the telecommunications sector. The review will be undertaken in three parts: 1. Ensuring that consumers have access to an effective complaints handling and redress scheme that provides transparency and holds telcos accountable for their performance. 2. Ensuring consumers…

5 April , 2018

ACCC finalises report on communications market

The ACCC has today published the final report of its communications sector market study, which includes 28 recommendations and actions on competition and consumer issues. Much has changed since the ACCC published its draft report in October 2017. Since then, the ACCC has secured eight court-enforceable undertakings from various internet service providers on NBN speeds,…

4 April , 2018

Telcos make a good start in providing critical information on NBN offers

A new Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) intelligence sweep of telco websites has found the overwhelming majority of telcos are complying with rules to provide Critical Information Summaries (CIS) to their customers. ‘CIS provide important information to consumers when making a choice between the plans offered by different telcos,’ said ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin. ‘Consumers can find this…

29 March , 2018

ACCAN welcomes ACCC’s first NBN speed test results

ACCAN welcomes the release of the first round of results from the ACCC’s Measuring Broadband Australia speed monitoring program, and its generally positive findings. ‘We’ve long been calling for the independent monitoring of broadband speeds so consumers know what they’re likely to be getting when they buy a service. We’re strongly supportive of the ACCC’s…