Publications, policy submissions & press
For media enquiries please contact Chris on 0403 353 621.
Response to Meta: Safeguarding the integrity of our Federal election
On 2 May 2022, in collaboration with leading academics with expertise in mis- and disinformation, cyber abuse, and other online harms, Reset Australia sent Meta an open letter with 24 questions about …
Election Radar: Australia's patchwork regulation leaves voters using WeChat with poor transparency of political ads and campaign activities
Reset Australia is investigating social media activity during the Federal election, with a focus on platform transparency, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. To support those responding, …
Briefing: How Meta Extorted Australia
This briefing highlights key details of whistleblower revelations about Facebook’s unprecedented tactical response to the development of Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code in February 2021, and …
When Big Tech extorts democracies, it’s time for tougher regulations
Following today’s shocking revelations about the behaviour of Facebook during negotiations of the News Media Bargaining Code, Reset Australia is calling for a radical overhaul of Big Tech regulation. …
The future of digital regulation in Australia: Five policy principles for a safer digital world
As Australia implements much needed digital regulation on a number of issues, there is a need to ensure policy initiatives are joined up and coherent. To avoid creating inconsistencies and gaps, and …
Australia's News Media Bargaining Code: Missed Opportunities
Executive Summary: The News Media and Digital Platform Mandatory Bargaining Code (the ‘Code’) was a world-first introduction of laws compelling digital platforms to pay publishers hosting their …
Election Radar: Spread of false voter fraud claims shows us why content moderation alone can’t protect the integrity of our election
Reset Australia is investigating social media activity during the Federal election, with a focus on platform transparency, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. To support those responding, …
Open letter to Meta: 24 questions about safeguarding the integrity of our Federal election
The 2022 Federal Election is now underway. It is imperative that Australian democracy is protected from mis- and disinformation and hate speech that polarises and divides our communities, and alters …
Algorithms as a weapon against women: How YouTube lures boys and young men into the ‘Manosphere’
Executive Summary This research documents how YouTube’s algorithms contribute to promoting misogynistic, anti-feminist and other extremist content to Australian boys and young men. Using experimental …
Designing for Disorder: Algorithms amplify pro-anorexia content to teens and children as young at 10
Reset Australia has again highlighted the need for the introduction of a Privacy Code for children and teens after Instagram is caught promoting and profiting from underage eating disorder content. …
Election Radar: Anti-trans hate speech and misinformation surges on social media as Deves' campaign occupies headlines
Reset Australia is investigating social media activity during the Federal election, with a focus on platform transparency, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. To support those responding, …
Election Radar: "We're Coming For You": Malcolm Robert's Viral Vaccine Conspiracy Speech Ignites Threats of Violence
Reset Australia is investigating social media activity during the Federal election, with a focus on platform transparency, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. To support those responding, …
Vic Government makes strong step on election transparency, but more regulation is needed
This week the Victorian Government released its response to the ‘Inquiry into the Impact of Social Media on Elections and Electoral Administration.’ The Government is supportive of all of the report’s …
Meta (Facebook) still approving ads with explicit disinformation as election campaigning ramps up
Introduction Disinformation has fundamentally altered the functioning of our public square and our democracy. Increasingly, fair and factual debate is a rarity. The spread of information intended to …
Troll hunting isn't solution to social media's hate problem
The federal government’s plans to expose online trolls on social media won’t resolve social media’s online hate problem, says Reset Australia. Greater transparency over how the platforms work, and in …
Facebook caught red handed harvesting teens’ data
Reset Australia is warning Facebook can’t be trusted to help draft children’s data code, after the platform was caught red handed harvesting teenagers’ data to serve them stalker ads. In April, an …
New privacy legislation first step to securing meaningful data rights for children
The government’s move to bolster online privacy protections for children has been welcomed by Reset Australia, but the policy think tank is warning that any proposed children’s data protection code …
Facebook Versus Democracy: Is Australia’s Election Under Threat?
This memo documents a timeline of major events over the course of Facebook’s history that demonstrate the unprecedented power the platform wields over politics and information systems globally. …
The root cause of online hate is the business model of Big Tech
Social media can be a toxic place. Pinning anonymity as the problem, our Prime Minister went on the record saying social media was ‘filled with cowards who go anonymously onto social media and vilify …
Facebook's role in Capitol riots underscores need for better rules ahead of Australia's federal election
Explosive revelations about Facebook’s decision to relax its election-proofing measures prior to the US Capitol riots demonstrates the consequences of the social media giant’s unchecked power, as …
New poll finds Australian teens want to more easily delete online profiles, uncomfortable with targeted advertising
New poll finds Australian teens want to more easily delete online profiles, uncomfortable with targeted advertising Australian teenagers want to be able to delete their online profiles, say they’re …
YouTube ban on anti-vax content is too little, too late
YouTube’s decision to ban anti-vax content will do little to tackle the systemic problem of misinformation, says Reset Australia as it calls for public oversight and algorithmic audits to uncover how …
Surveilling young people online: An investigation into TikTok’s data processing practices
This report explores TikTok’s data collection and use practices, as an example of how social media handles children’s data. It explores the consent and sign up process for children and young people, …
Facebook must act on algorithms pushing people towards anti-vaxx misinformation
Reset Australia is demanding greater transparency about how Facebook’s algorithms work, as a new report shows users are still being pushed towards anti-vaccination and COVID-19 misinformation on the …
Did we really consent to this? Terms and conditions & young people’s data
This report describes how young people experience the sign-up process and terms and conditions of some popular digital platforms. While they are easy to skip over, terms and conditions (T&Cs) are …
Social media ‘dark patterns’ nudging Australian kids into shady data harvesting
Apps popular with kids, including the likes of Tik Tok, Instagram, and Snapchat, have such confusing terms of use that users need a university degree to understand what they’re signing up to, a new …
Anti-vaccination & vaccine hesitant narratives intensify in Australian Facebook Groups
‘Anti-vaxx’ and vaccine hesitant content is both easily accessible on the leading social media platforms in Australia and on the rise. Controversy around leading public figures such as Pete Evans and …
Australian anti-vaxx Facebook groups swell nearly 300% during pandemic
The number of Australians following public anti-vaxx Facebook groups grew nearly 300% during the pandemic, Reset Australia has found, in direct correlation with Australia’s rising vaccine hesitancy …
Govt urged to take cyber spying laws further and stop teenage data snooping, says Reset Australia
Proposed privacy laws which prohibit the collection of minor’s data by Big Tech should be extended to all teenagers under 18 to stop granular targeting advertising and data harvesting of Australian …
Profiling Children for Advertising: Facebook’s Monetisation of Young People’s Personal Data
This report explores how social media platforms profile young people for advertising purposes, and highlights how out of step with community expectations this practice is. Previous research has shown …
Submission to the ACCC AdTech Inquiry
Reset Australia would like to thank the Australian Competition and Consumer Commision (ACCC) for the opportunity to input into the Digital advertising services inquiry Interim Report. We commend the …
Parliamentary Friends of Making Social Media Safe launches in Canberra
The Parliamentary Friends of Making Social Media Safe was launched in Canberra this morning by Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Reset …
Big Tech's 'Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation’ is both pointless and shameless
The code of practice launched by the Digital Industry Group (DIGI) today is pointless and should be replaced by an independent public regulator with the power to inspect and audit algorithms, …
Facebook opts for Australians seeing dangerous, unchecked misinformation, rather than pay for news
Facebook’s decision to pull news from its Australian users reveals just how little the platform cares about stopping misinformation, says Reset Australia. “Facebook blocking news in the middle of a …
Facebook wants Australians seeing dangerous, unchecked misinformation instead of paying for news
Facebook’s decision to pull news from its Australian users reveals just how little the platform cares about stopping misinformation, according to Reset Australia. “Facebook blocking news in the middle …
Submission to the Online Safety Bill 2020
Reset Australia is an independent, non-partisan organisation committed to driving public policy advocacy, research, and civic engagement to strengthen our democracy within the context of technology. …
Submission on extremist movements and radicalism in Australia
To: Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) From: Reset Australia Reset Australia would like to thank PJCIS for the opportunity to input on the inquiry into extremist …
Submission on Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020
Who we are Reset Australia is an independent, non-partisan organisation committed to driving public policy advocacy, research, and civic engagement to strengthen our democracy within the context of …
Unchecked misinformation risks Australia’s vaccine response
A newly formed coalition of health and technology experts is calling on the Australian Parliament to force Big Tech companies to reveal the true extent of COVID-19 misinformation. In a letter sent to …
Statement to the Senate Inquiry on the News Media Bargaining Code
Read by Matt Nguyen First, we at Reset Australia would like to thank all the Senators for their time, and the opportunity to share our thoughts on this world-leading legislative agenda. Reset …
Free speech debate a convenient distraction for Big Tech
Decisions about closing someone’s social media account should be transparent and there should be avenues to appeal, says Reset Australia, but ultimately the real harm from Big Tech’s unchecked …
New rules needed for out-of-control social media
Social media giants need new rules that meet Australian community expectations, says Reset Australia. “It’s time for social media to grow up and accept public oversight is coming,” said Chris Cooper, …
Big tech acts too little, too late to tackle misinformation
Moves by social media giants to suspend outgoing US President Donald Trump will do little to tackle the extent of misinformation online, says Reset Australia. Chris Cooper, executive director of the …
Perth's quarantine escapee just tip of the iceberg of social media threat to Australia's COVID-19 response
Perth’s quarantine escapee just tip of the iceberg of social media threat to Australia’s COVID-19 response Australia’s COVID-19 response is under threat from unchecked social media companies, as …
Australians fear COVID-19 misinformation threat, want transparency
Australians fear unchecked misinformation online could derail our COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and want to see greater transparency about the extent of the problem, new polling has found. Reset …
Google, Facebook's weak disinformation code sets Australia up to repeat failures of EU
Google and Facebook’s voluntary disinformation code doesn’t offer Australians any real protections from the effects of dangerous and false information online, say Reset Australia. ACMA asked the …
Submission on the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation
To: DIGI From: Reset Australia Reset Australia would like to thank DIGI for the opportunity to input on the proposed Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation. Reset Australia is an independent, …
Submission on the Review of the Privacy Act 1988
To: Attorney-General’s Department From: Reset Australia Reset Australia would like to thank the Attorney-General’s Department for the opportunity to input on the Review of the Privacy Act 1988. Reset …
The impact of technology on our society in 2020
It is important to highlight that this survey was conducted at the start of 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns which saw usage of digital platforms across Australia …
Reset Australia launches with agenda to counter digital threats to democracy
Australia is set to become a key player in the global push to tackle digital threats to democracy and rein in Big Tech, as the international Reset network launches a local affiliate. Reset Australia …
Facebook's aggressive threats reveal it cares more about its bottom line than fighting misinformation
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Facebook’s aggressive response to the federal government’s move to force big tech to pay for Australian news stories …
Final Draft of the News Media and Digital Platform Mandatory Bargaining Code
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Responsible Technology Australia (RTA) would like to thank the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) …
Social media needs to grow up and be transparent about infodemic
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Social media needs to be compelled to be transparent about the extent of its misinformation problem, particularly …
Google paying for real news is good, but will need to link with crackdown on fake news
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Reports that Google may begin to pay for news is a positive step, but more is urgently needed to protect journalism …
Australia must reform social media to protect democracy and stop disinformation
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Foreign Minister Marise Payne is right to warn against the power disinformation campaigns have to disrupt democracy, …
How tough is Facebook’s misinformation crackdown?
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Facebook reviewed and approved advertisements which targeted Australians with misinformation about coronavirus, as …
Forcing tech giants to pay for real news is good, but will need to link with crackdown on fake news
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. The federal government’s move to introduce a mandatory code of conduct that will force Facebook and Google to pay for …
Submission to the Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media
The focus of this submission is to highlight the central role the digital platforms play in facilitating foreign interference in Australian democracy. Whilst preventing the actions of foreign …
Fake news checklist to fight against COVID-19 misinformation
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Fake information about coronavirus is diverting previous resources away from Australia’s fight against COVID-19, says …
Information Commissioner's legal action against Facebook shows need for systemic reform of social media
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Responsible Technology Australia says Information Commissioner’s legal action against Facebook over the Cambridge …
Facebook's 'trust us' approach to COVID-19 fake news is failing, Australia must demand transparency
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. The federal government should reject Facebook’s ’trust us’ approach to the spread of dangerous COVID-19 fake news and …
Response to the proposed Online Safety Act
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Responsible Technology Australia (RTA) would like to thank the Australian Government for the opportunity to input on …
Social media giants must make extent of misinformation public to help fight coronavirus
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Social media giants must be transparent about the extent of coronavirus misinformation spreading on their platforms …
Minister Fletcher’s recognition of the need for social media guardrails a giant step forward
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. Responsible Technology Australia has commended Communications Minister Paul Fletcher for advancing the national …
Submission on the Final Report of the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry
Reset Australia formerly operated under the name Responsible Technology Australia. To: The Treasury - The Australian Government From: Responsible Technology Australia Responsible Technology Australia …