Digital consumers

Consumer Protection

Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Consumer Affairs Ministers met on Tuesday 10 December 2024 to renew their commitment to strengthen consumer protections across the country. Ministers attending the meeting, chaired by Commonwealth Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, acknowledged the substantial progress on key reforms to the Australian Consumer Law over the past year, including work to strengthen…

Read More Consumer Affairs Ministers Set 2025 Agenda, Consumer Protection to remain at the forefront

Consulting

The ACCC has welcomed today’s start of consultation by the Australian Government on the implementation of a new digital competition regime in Australia. The consultation comes after the Government’s in-principle agreement to competition reforms recommended by the ACCC to address harms caused by digital platforms. “This is an important opportunity for consumers, businesses and other interested parties…

Read More Consultation Opens for New Digital Competition Reform in Australia

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Following the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth.), industry associations have been tasked with developing codes of practice to protect Australians from a number of materials online. The draft codes for phase two, covering Classes 1C and 2 materials, have now been released and are available for public comment here. Consultation will be open from October…

Read More Consultation Opens on ‘Phase Two’ of Online Safety Codes

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The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, where you can socialise, collaborate, learn, and play with others across different digital worlds. The metaverse may offer new opportunities for creativity, education, entertainment, and commerce, but there are also new challenges where metaverse technologies can have a significant impact on young users’ mental health and well-being. Children…

Read More Children’s safety in the metaverse – Draft standard open for Public Comment

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The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has published a working paper on multimodal foundation models (MFMs) used in generative artificial intelligence (AI). The latest working paper “Examination of technology – Multimodal Foundation Models” examines MFMs – a type of generative AI that can process and output multiple data types, such as image, audio or video…

Read More Regulators Release Working Paper on an AI Generative Model

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Consumer Action Law Centre, CHOICE, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Super Consumers Australia, have welcomed the announcement from the Albanese Government of a consultation on a draft bill starting today, for the proposed Scams Prevention Framework. “I congratulate Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and the Albanese Government for pushing ahead with these scam…

Read More Advocates Welcome New Scam Framework, Urge Consumer Safeguards be at the Front and Centre

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A Voluntary AI Safety Standard has been made available by the Australian Government – it  gives practical guidance to all Australian organisations on how to safely and responsibly use and innovate with artificial intelligence (AI). The standard consists of 10 voluntary guardrails that apply to all organisations throughout the AI supply chain and explain what…

Read More Voluntary AI Safety Standard Available

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With ongoing cost of living pressures impacting household budgets, the Consumer Affairs Victoria has come up with some tips to help you become an informed and savvy consumer and to save some money along the way. When you shop, think carefully before you buy. Learn more about consumer guarantees here. Save at the checkout by…

Read More Top Consumer Tips to Beat Cost of Living Pressures

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CHOICE survey of 6000 consumers reveals many businesses are giving consumers the run-around A new survey of 6000 CHOICE supporters has found that almost 3 in 4 (73%) have experienced poor customer service from a business they dealt with in the preceding year, and 85% believed that customer service provided by businesses is getting worse. …

Read More Over 70% of Consumers Experience Poor Customer Service

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The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) received a record number of complaints in 2023-24 after disputes to the ombudsman service increased 9 per cent to more than 105,000 for the year. Complaints about scams, online and personal transaction accounts, credit cards, and personal loans all saw significant increases. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin…

Read More Advocates Continue Call for Reimbursement Policy as Scam Complaints to AFCA go ‘off the charts’

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The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) says action is needed to give consumers as well as suppliers a fairer go when dealing with supermarkets. QCA spokesperson Ian Jarratt says the Federal Government’s decision to change the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct to help farmers and other suppliers in their dealings s with large supermarkets, highlights…

Read More Consumers Want a Fair Go for Supermarket Shoppers Too