Twitter And Snapchat Caution Against Government Anonymity Measures

Twitter and Snapchat have defended online anonymity as the Australian Government continues to develop stringent social media legislation.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Twitter and Snapchat have voiced privacy concerns over proposed laws that would force Australian’s to verify their age on many popular websites.
Such legislation would effectively require technology companies to keep users’ IDs and contact information.
Snapchat argued that this erosion of anonymity could hurt people who use it to protect themselves online.
Potentially affected groups include survivors of domestic violence or Australian’s critical of repressive foreign regimes that target dissidents abroad.
As earlier reported by B&T, the Federal Government has made clear its increasing ire for online harassment and yearn to protect young people from harmful web content.
Nonetheless, in a submission, Twitter argued that anonymity alone does not lead to abuse online.
The company stated, “In many cases people post harassing, toxic replies under their real name, with a photo of their real face.”
In concurrence with Twitter, B&T previously reported that Reset Australia believed that emerging Government policies weren’t likely to resolve the scourge of hatefulness that’s become all too familiar online.
Though, despite the ardent disagreements between technology companies and the Government, both parties have acknowledged the complexities of introducing effective regulation.
Evidently, communications minister Paul Fletcher said, “This is a complex issue and we will always need to look carefully at how to balance safety, privacy and anonymity.”
Last year, the Online Safety Act strengthened Australia’s existing restricted access system that is intended to stop people under 18 from seeing this like pornography online.
The success of this legislation is crucial when considering the implications of the WA Child Safety Services report that outlined, “In Australia, the average age of first exposure [to pornography] is being reported at between 8 and 10 years of age.”
Speaking on the matter of children’s online safety, e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant has said, her agency is focused on identifying technical measures that preserve privacy while minimising the sharing of personal information.
To mitigate risks, she has proposed things like AI-driven age estimates based on users’ webcam pictures or analysis of user behaviour on a service.
Latest News

Ogilvy Unveils NSW Government’s Latest COVID PSA “Little Things”
Ogilvy’s latest campaign for the NSW Government, “Little Things”, dramatises the idea of the little things that everyone should be doing to make a big difference to COVID safe life this winter. The OLV, social, radio, digital and OOH campaign was brought to life by creating miniature worlds, where COVID safety objects became the hero […]

Reconciliation Australia Launches National Reconciliation Week Campaign Via Carbon Creative
Reconciliation Australia and Carbon Creative will launch National Reconciliation Week 2022 tomorrow, Friday, 27 May (running through to 3 June) with the theme ‘Be brave. Make change.’ The theme and campaign, developed by social change creative agency Carbon Creative in collaboration with emerging Torres Strait Visual Artist Tori-Jay Mordey, challenges all Australians—individuals, families, communities, organisations, […]

Pearman Media Appoints Tara Lamond As Group Business Director
Pearman Media has announced the appointment of Tara Lamond as group business director. “With experience on both the media and agency sides, including a stint in London, Tara brings a wealth of advertising and media expertise to this role, and we are thrilled to welcome her on board,” said Pearman Media founder and managing director, […]

Beyond the Rainbow: How Brands Can Better Connect with LGBTQIA+ Consumers All Year Round
In this guest post, Jonathan Munschi (pictured below), head of sales for Twitter Australia, says initiatives such as Mardi Gras and Pride month give brands the ideal platform to connect with the LGBTQIA+, but, Munschi asks, why ignore the rest of the year? It’s time for brands to rethink their approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusive marketing. […]

Wide World Of Sports Radio Will Air Nationally From November
Who needs the visual appeal of watching sports like NRL and AFL when you can listen to them on National radio?

Samsung Launches New Refrigerator Campaign In South Korea, And It’s Wild
Apparently selling fridges wasn't 'cool' enough for Samsung, so now they've got a meme-fueled campaign in South Korea.

Anne Hathaway & Zendaya’s Bulgari Ad Feels More Like A Movie Trailer In The Best Way
Lux brand Bulgari enlists two Hollywood A-listers for latest campaign. Like, who were you expecting? Sharon Strzelecki?

Templafy Lands David Nemes As APAC Regional Director
LinkedIn and Buzzfeed will certainly be lost without Nemes, who is making the leap into the world of online documents.

IAS Signal Will Now Include Total Visibility Dashboard In Latest Update
The news brought so much excitement to the B&T team that we all lifted our heads off our desks and cheered for a minute.

Today Is National Sorry Day
B&T would like to take time out from the usual programming to acknowledge National Sorry Day today.

Wednesday TV Wrap: Charlie Pickering’s The Weekly Delivers, As Nine Snags The Night
If there's one group sad about ScoMo's defeat it has to be ABC comics decrying the lack of material.

‘The Sims 4’ Now Lets You Use Your Own Pronouns For Your Characters
The latest entry in EA and Maxis’ life simulation series, The Sims 4, has released a new update which allows players to customise their character’s pronouns. This new feature is available only in the English version of the game for the time being, with the developers saying that they will soon release it for other […]

Former Havas Head Of CX Michaela Aguilar Joins Martech Firm Acoustic
Acoustic, a marketing cloud, digital experience and lifecycle pricing and promotion technology solution provider, announced today that Michaela Aguilar has joined the team as head of business partnership ecosystem. In her new role, Aguilar will be responsible for business development and expansion, working with partners and the Acoustic team to create new revenue opportunities in […]

Samatha Armytage Shares Her Drunk At Work Fiasco While Interviewing Karl Stefanovic
Samatha Armytage is regaling drunken work stories. A refreshing change from her regaling issues in her personal life.

Butterfly Foundation Enlists QMS To Highlight Eating Disorders That Kill More Aussies Than The Road Toll
B&T warns this article is a bit of a downer. But an important downer nonetheless.

NSW Government Launches New Sexual Consent Campaign Aimed At Under 25s
Is B&T feeling a little worthy and pious today? Confirm it with this important consent campaign.

Alexa Looks To Expand Her Knowledge Of Australia By Teaming Up With The Betoota Advocate
Alexa teams with The Betoota Advocate to expand her knowledge of Australia. Thankfully Bob Katter wasn't considered.

Twitter Executives Unclear About Future Of Company Under Musk
Twitter executives unclear about future under Elon. Not keen on the matching work tracksuit idea either.

Ipsos Survey Shows Aussies Aren’t As Excited By The Metaverse And VR/AR Environments As People From Other Countries
Study says Aussies less interested in Metaverse than other nations. Still have strange fascination for Karl Stefanovic.

Study: Over 90% Of Major US Brands Think Their Creative & Media Needs To Be Better Aligned
Study confirms a misalignment between media & creative. And not merely one's obsession with the beard & the trainer.

Bastion Asia Solidifies Its Strategic Partnership With Adventi, Shanghai
Asian marketing communications agency Bastion Asia has announced a strategic partnership with one of Shanghai’s leading PR agencies, Adventi, to drive greater digital and marketing innovation for Australian brands seeking to engage with Chinese audiences. Adventi, a marketing and communications agency specialising in luxury brands, is known for bringing some of Europe’s biggest luxury brands […]

Engine Creative Brings Innovation To The Lost Person Poster Using Modern Day Technology
Engine Creative has reinvented the missing person poster – re-thinking the standard design and introducing a high-impact live portrait – for UK charity Missing People to coincide with International Missing Children’s Day. The striking, high-tech digital posters show a ‘live’ image of the missing person appearing to move their eyes, smile and make facial expressions. […]

VERSA Lands Jen Cerqualia As Client Strategy Partner
With this new position, Cerqualia has now assembled the digital Infinity Gauntlet, and will wield its power malevolently.

Amplify Announces Three Senior Promotions Amid New Client Wins
Amplify go for all black motif for accompanying press photo with an ever so subtle dash of rock star grunge.

Spark Foundry Promotes Sue-Ellen Osborn & Greg Cattelain
It's promotions for Spark's hardworking Sue-Ellen Osborn and Greg Cattelain. And there's a lesson for all of us there.

Toyota Corolla Gets Brand New Platform Thanks To HERO Agency
Much like the Meerkat ads, AC/DC and the Filet-O-Fish, the Corolla is just one of those things that just refuses to die.

LinkedIn Puts The Spotlight On Indigenous Australians In The Workplace With New Campaign By Campfire X For Reconciliation Week
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has today launched the latest iteration of its #ConversationsForChange initiative with a new content series in partnership with Indigenous-led creative consultancy, Campfire X. The three-part series, titled ‘Change Starts With’, aims to highlight the often subtle, everyday moments that can impact Indigenous Australians in the workplace. The campaign encourages […]

Microsoft Build 2022 Conference Unveils A Number Of Key Updates On Windows, Office And More
Here's all the highlights from Microsoft's Build 2022 conference. Alas, still no sign of teleporting or robot servants.

Australia’s Ad Standards Received 4675 Complaints In 2021, Up 33% Year-On-Year
In exciting news for the sale of stationery supplies and stamps, complaints to Ad Standards was up 33% last year.

Global Study Finds Top Challenges For Journalists & Uncovers Relationships With PRs
B&T journos' top challenges include squabbling over office music, offloading wonky chair & defeating pub toss the boss.

The Six Habits Of Successful Entrepreneurs
Lacking motivation today? Well, here's some expert tips to get you at your peak. If you could be bothered, that is.

New Australian Circuits Announced For Cash Converters Supercars Eseries
The resident motorsports writer at B&T nearly broke his desk in excitement when this announcement was made.

Metarise Create Innovation With Australia’s First-Ever Web3 Incubator
Collective Campus, Australian innovation consultancy and start-up accelerator, is spinning off Metarise – a web3 venture fund and tokenized start-up accelerator focused on bringing web3 projects to life across Asia-Pacific. Having run numerous web2 accelerators in partnership with brands such as Microsoft, Village Roadshow, Charter Hall, and Mills Oakley, Metarise’s ANZ Launchpad will be run […]

TikTok Unveils A Whole New Field Of Marketing Opportunities Through #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt
The popular video sharing platform TikTok is showing agencies its unique potential as a place to share their products with its latest #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt campaign, which is becoming increasingly appealing with audiences and users. During the pandemic, TikTok became one of the breakout social media outlets, rapidly rising in account numbers as people all across the […]

Kim Kardashian Has Gone Viral After Being Caught Pretending To Eat A Burger In New Ad
Here at B&T we say a day without some Kardashian news is a day without sunshine. Get an instant tan with this stupidity.

Amanda Keller Tears Up While Discussing The Latest Tragic Mass Shooting In America
Amanda Keller gets teary over latest mass school shooting in the US. But what other response is there to the madness?