MEDIA RELEASE

CALL FOR ACTION ON INTERNET ELECTORAL LAW

Launceston, TAS, 19 February 2010 – Consumer Group Digital Tasmania, supported by a number of organisations and concerned individuals has today written to ask the Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner not to enforce an unworkable section of Electoral Law.

Section 191 requires at all electoral matter posted on the Internet be accompanied with an authorisation containing a person’s full name and home or work address.

Andrew Connor, spokesperson for Digital Tasmania, said this raises many practical and privacy issues.

“The sheer impracticality of enforcing this law on thousands of people in Tasmania and elsewhere commenting on this election is overwhelming.”

Mr Connor said that the law was a backwards step for users of popular social networking sites such as Facebook, which has recently improved its privacy controls after widespread complaints from individuals and privacy groups around the world.

“Those who do follow the letter of the law potentially expose themselves to harassment, stalking, physical abuse or identity theft.”

“It is conceivable that such personally identifiable information may, once published, remain available online forever.

The letter (attached) was also sent to the leaders of the 3 leading Tasmanian political parties asking for their support of the Commissioner if he decides not to enforce this law and to seek a review of the law as soon as parliament reconvenes.

Digital Tasmania:  http://www.digitaltasmania.org

Supporting Organisations:

Electronic Frontiers Australia – http://www.efa.org.au
Civil Liberties Australia – http://www.cla.asn.au 
Australian Privacy Foundation – http://www.privacy.org.au 

Download: Letter to the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, to which TasmanianTimes.com is a signatory:
2010-02-19_Letter_to_TEC_-_Section_191.pdf