Communications

In light of rapid increases to the cost of living, the peak body for communications consumers has welcomed new measures announced in this week’s federal budget to improve the affordability of communications services and boost digital inclusion across the nation. This echoes calls made by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to establish a…

Read More Affordability and digital inclusion measures welcomed by advocates

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Six industry associations that represent the online industry in Australia have published new online safety codes for public consultation. This item is from Online Safety. Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021, which came into effect in January 2022, requires the development of codes by industry associations to regulate certain types of harmful online material, known as Class 1A…

Read More Have your say: New online safety industry codes

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In good news for consumers, complaints about phone and internet services decreased 33.4 per cent in the last financial year ending 30 June 2022. During this period, residential consumers and small businesses made 79,534 complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, highlighted in the Annual Report 2021-22 published today. This is a media release from Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman…

Read More TIO Annual report shows poor mobile coverage the most prominent issue for telco services

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ACCAN recently commissioned research asking the Australian public about their top concerns when it comes to their communications services. This is a media release from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). It was originally published on 27th July, 2022. We surveyed nearly 1000 (n=998) Australians on a range of topics. We asked people about the affordability and…

Read More Consumer Check-in: Expectations in 2022

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New research by Dr Zofia Bednarz has found insurers, using new AI and other models, may be able to collect your online data, and apart from anti-discrimination laws, there are no effective constraints on them using that data to price contracts. This is a media release from The University of Sydney: News & opinion. It was originally published…

Read More Is your insurance company watching you online and is it legal?

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The new ISO Standard ISO 22458 Consumer vulnerability – Requirements and guidelines for the design and delivery of inclusive service was developed by the international committee ISO/PC 311 Vulnerable consumers. This was written by Alistair Tegart, Former Engagement Manager at Standards Australia and published by SOCAP. Standards Australia’s committee CS-311 Vulnerable consumers worked on Australian input to the…

Read More Standard for responding to vulnerability

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Consumer think tank, the Consumer Policy Research Centre, today released research that found 83% of Australians have been negatively impacted by a website or app using harmful design features, known as dark patterns. This is a media release from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC). It was originally published on 8th June, 2022.  In its report, Duped by Design,…

Read More New protections needed to stop online designs that hurt consumers

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Consumers using online retail marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon “have little effective choice in the amount of data they share”, according to the latest report of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Digital Platform Services Inquiry. This is an article from Katharine Kemp at The Conversation. It was originally published on 2nd May, 2022.  Consumers may benefit…

Read More ACCC says consumers need more choices about what online marketplaces are doing with their data

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The board of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) today announced that Andrew Williams has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the organisation. “Following an executive search process, the board has determined that Acting CEO Andrew Williams is the best person to lead ACCAN forward as CEO,” said ACCAN Chair Deirdre O’Donnell. This…

Read More ACCAN Board announces Andrew Williams as CEO

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The development of new upfront rules that force dominant digital platforms to treat their users fairly is the important next step in reforming Australia’s consumer protection laws, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said today. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 15th March, 2022.  Delivering the 2022 Ruby…

Read More New digital platform rules crucial next step in consumer law reform

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The release of the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review holds promise for better connectivity for regional, rural and remote Australians, according to the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). This is a media release from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). It was originally published on 15th February, 2022. The Regional Telecommunications Review is a tri-annual process which plays…

Read More ACCAN Welcomes 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review Findings

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Scamwatch is urging people to watch out for dating and romance scams after Australians reported losing a record $56 million last year, an increase of 44 per cent. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 14th February, 2022. Over 3,400 reports were received about dating and romance…

Read More Learn how to spot a romance scammer this Valentine’s Day