We had the privilege of hosting Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen in Canberra, where she met with policymakers and media to share her thoughts on the political debate surrounding banning under 16s from social media. During her visit, Frances equipped policymakers with key research and insights, pointing out that the current incentives in the tech industry will not drive the change we need. She stressed that transparency—whether in platforms’ censorship practices, advertising databases, or the management of viral content—is the real game-changer.

TPDC welcomed the opportunity to have a say in the statutory review into the operation of the Online Safety Act 2021 (the Act).

#TechPolicyFutures24 brought together politicians, officials, civil society advocates, industry, innovators, and scholars in Parliament House to talk about designing the technology we want to see tomorrow.   We were thrilled to host our second annual Tech Futures event, in partnership with .auDA, Australia’s domain name administrator.

TPDC submitted a response to the Select Committee Inquiry on Adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI). Australia must embrace AI technologies by seizing the potential economic, productivity and efficiency benefits it can offer the nation, while managing the risks that it poses, including to democracy. TPDC is optimistic that this balance can be achieved.

If you could design the perfect tech policy education course, what would it look like? At TPDC, we’re on a mission to do just that. In our recent Education Co-Design Workshop, we brought together experts from government, industry, and civil society and academia to explore what the ideal curriculum should entail.  

Tech Policy Design Centre hosted Ms. Frances Haugen to discuss Big Tech’s accountability and transparency at Old Parliament House and The Australian National University.  

Digital identity has the power to unlock productivity, security and convenience for Australian citizens, businesses and governments. So, it was the perfect topic for our second Tech Policy Hypotheticals event with our Parliamentary Friends of Tech Policy in Parliament House on 14 February 2024.  

The Australian National University (ANU) has bolstered its commitment to helping the nation respond to the societal impacts of rapidly evolving technology, with the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre (TPDC) being made a permanent centre of the University. To mark its transition from a pilot to a permanent centre, TPDC today announces the development of Australia’s first dedicated tech policy curriculum and an expanded research agenda, supported by a new Independent Advisory Board, which meets today for the first time.

Tech Policy Design Centre extends a warm welcome to our inaugural Head of Policy Design (Zoe Hawkins) and Head of Education Design (Simon McAllister).

Our latest report on blockchain technology in India and Australia is out!   The report “Mapping the Blockchain Ecosystem in India and Australia: Case Studies” delves into stakeholder engagement and education on blockchain technology complexities.

The Tech Policy Design Centre at The Australian National University (ANU) is partnering with Australian parliamentarians in a new initiative to promote better tech regulation. Launched at Parliament House, the Parliamentary Group of Friends of Tech Policy, is co-chaired by the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP, Kate Chaney MP, Senator David Pocock, Senator David Shoebridge and the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre.

7 Nov 2023 – The Tech Policy Design Centre at The Australian National University has launched a major expansion of its world-leading Tech Policy Atlas of global tech regulation.   You can access the Tech Policy Atlas 2.0 online, as well as make contributions to help us keep the Atlas up-to-date!

There is a persistent myth that cyberspace is a lawless wild west. This could not be further from the truth. There is a clear international consensus that existing laws of war apply online.

Last week the Tech Policy Design Centre (TPDC) at the Australian National University hosted the UK Cabinet Secretary and Head of the UK Civil Service, Simon Case, for a roundtable on AI Safety to inform rapid national and international action at the frontier of AI development.  

The Telecommunications Sector Risk and Resilience Symposium was hosted by TPDC at ANU on 4-5 September 2023. Attendees included experts from government, industry, utility providers, emergency services, the risk and disaster management community, and academia. Over two days, scenario exercises, presentations and discussions were held to inform development of all-hazards, sector-wide telecommunications risk and resilience profile.

‘Ransomware remains the most destructive cybercrime threat.’ – Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)   This is precisely why the Tech Policy Design Centre has given top priority to our latest Policy Options Paper, Combatting Ransomware.   The paper includes 7 actionable policy options available to the Australian government. We recommend adopting a clear policy against the payment of ransoms, but we do not support a complete ban or criminalisation of ransom payments, as it shifts the burden of breaking the ransomware business model to the victim.

Expertise. Energy. Action. On Tuesday 28 March, the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre partnered with .au Domain Australia (auDA) to host Tech Policy Futures at Parliament House. It was an evening filled with lightning speeches, roaming tech experts, future foods, wine tasting with drones, and interactive exhibits showcasing best-practice tech policy — all while the division bells were ringing as the bill for the National Reconstruction Fund passed the senate.

We must have checks and balances on our technologists and on those who govern technology, especially in the case of DPGs because of their increasingly broad public utility and dependence.

What will it look like if Australia gets tech regulation right? This research recommends a best practice model for tech policy coordination in Australia. The model draws on international best practices, and extensive consultation with stakeholders in Government, Industry, and Civil Society. The model is ready for immediate implementation and is largely cost-neutral.

On 14 December the Honourable Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs launched the Global Tech Policy Atlas. The Atlas is an interactive website and public repository of national tech policy, strategy, legislation and regulation. It covers 36 jurisdictions, 2000 records and growing!