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Technology, Human Rights, Public Policy & Law | Views my own. | www.linkedin.com/in/mslods/

Leanne O'Donnell’s Journalist Portfolio

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Government haste lays waste to consultation

Government haste lays waste to consultation

Eureka Street — In October last year, in my former role as regulatory manager of iiNet, I responded to a confidential industry consultation paper on the proposed data retention scheme. The Attorney-General's Department provided no response to that 22 page paper beyond an acknowledgment of receipt.

Known unknowns of the facial recognition capability

Known unknowns of the facial recognition capability

Eureka Street — In May, the Federal Justice Minister announced a plan to work toward a National Facial Biometric Matching Capability, due to start operating in mid-2016. The lead agency is the Attorney-General's Department, the same department frustrating telcos with its implementation of data retention.

Data regime will see us funding our own surveillance

Data regime will see us funding our own surveillance

Eureka Street — Back in March Malcolm Turnbull told ABC radio: 'The only thing the data retention law is requiring is that types of metadata which are currently retained will be retained ... for at least two years.'

600,000 disclosures of telecommunications data in one year

600,000 disclosures of telecommunications data in one year

Alternative Law Journal — In the ACMA Annual Report, for 2014-15, it was reported that there were: 584 029 disclosures of information relating to authorisations for access to existing information or documents - enforcement of criminal law 7206 disclosures of information relating to authorisations for access to existing information or documents - enforcement of a law imposing pecuniary penalty or protection of the public revenue.

European Data Retention Laws: an update

European Data Retention Laws: an update

EFA — This table was produced by Leanne O'Donnell - a senior lawyer and leading legal expert in the communications sector. The Australian Government looked to the European experience as a model for its data retention scheme, and also claimed the European examples as justifications for our own legislation.

Social media: How social media can help you

Social media: How social media can help you

Law Institute Journal — Cite as: July 2015 89 (7) LIJ, p.80 Entering the world of Twitter and blogs enables practitioners to keep up to date in a targeted way. How many times have you thought that you just don't have time for social media?

Controversial copyright website-blocking law passed

Controversial copyright website-blocking law passed

Alternative Law Journal — The Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 passed in the last sitting week before the Winter recess. The passage of this Bill was preceded by a brief Senate Inquiry that held just one public hearing, which only two Senators attended. The Bill was passed on 22 June with the support of both major parties.

Mandatory data retention laws passed

Mandatory data retention laws passed

Alternative Law Journal

Tweeting legal

Tweeting legal

Law Institute Journal — Cite as: March 2015 89 (3) LIJ, p.26 Lawyers and firms are increasingly making friends with social media. Back in 2009, a civil trial involving an internet service provider and copyright infringement attracted widespread attention in the profession, the IT and telecommunications sector and the media.

Data retention will hurt YOU, not criminals. Here's how

Data retention will hurt YOU, not criminals. Here's how

Crikey — The government's data retention is far more likely to harm ordinary Australians than catch criminals or terrorists. Bernard Keane and senior IP and communications lawyer Leanne O'Donnell explain how. Debate over a data retention scheme can seem abstruse, given the technical aspects of the debate and the complex legal and philosophical issues around freedom of speech, a free press and privacy.

Data retention: too many unknowns, too many unanswered questions | Leanne O'Donnell

Data retention: too many unknowns, too many unanswered questions | Leanne O'Donnell

The Guardian — andatory data retention is mass surveillance. As the former Victorian Privacy Commissioner said, it "is characteristic of a police state. It is premised on the assumption that all citizens should be monitored". But what if you've got nothing to hide and you're not fussed about rights and freedoms? Here's some further practical consequences of data retention to consider.

Privacy Awareness Week

Privacy Awareness Week

iiNet — This week is Privacy Awareness Week (4 to 10 May), which is held each year to promote awareness of privacy issues and the importance of protection of personal information. iiNet is participating in Privacy Awareness Week as part of our commitment to protecting our customers' privacy.

MsLods' news round-up: law + technology - 2014 extract

MsLods' news round-up: law + technology - 2014 extract

journlaw.com — IP lawyer Leanne O'Donnell (@MsLods) reports on a huge week in copyright law in Australia with this curation of key articles on that important topic (and others)

Copyright or copywrong? The state of copyright in Australia

Copyright or copywrong? The state of copyright in Australia

iinet.net.au — Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of the online protests that killed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the US. On the eve of what activists are calling 'Internet Freedom Day', we review the situation in Australia where changes in legislation and piracy enforcement look increasingly likely.

Can a tweet land you in court?

Can a tweet land you in court?

ntegrity — Twitter has become deeply integrated into my life. As danah boyd recently discussed, it seems every aspect of my life now blurs. As the influence of social media increases in Australia so will the need for company's senior executives and social media managers to meaningfully consider both the benefits and the risks of engaging online.

iiNet: Charting a new course for authorisation law in Australia

iiNet: Charting a new course for authorisation law in Australia

Law Institute Journal — Cite as: April 2013 87 (4) LIJ, p.44 Internet service provider iiNet was found not to have authorised copyright infringement when its customers downloaded films. By Graham Phillips and Leanne O'Donnell On 20 April 2012, the High Court handed down the eagerly anticipated judgment in Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Limited, 1 the first trial in the world to proceed to judgment involving a suit against an internet service provider (ISP) claiming copyright infringement on its part due to alleged authorisation of the copyright infringement of its users.

Book Review: Mark Pearson "Blogging and Tweeting Without Getting Sued" - Leanne O'Donnell

Book Review: Mark Pearson "Blogging and Tweeting Without Getting Sued" - Leanne O'Donnell

inforrm.org — Mark Pearson's new book Blogging & Tweeting Without Getting Sued: A global guide to the law for anyone writing online - is very accessible guide to laws relevant to the all those writing online.

Three Reasons Why the FIA Guidelines on Social Media Should be Changed | PBA

Three Reasons Why the FIA Guidelines on Social Media Should be Changed | PBA

probonoaustralia.com.au — Social media marketer, Richenda Vermeulen and lawyer, Leanne O'Donnell have called on the Fundraising Institute of Australia to revise some aspects of its Social Media Fundraising Guidelines.

Facebook Rulings Affect Not for Profits | PBA

Facebook Rulings Affect Not for Profits | PBA

probonoaustralia.com.au — The spate of Facebook scandals and recent rulings may be making Not for Profits leaders nervous or confused. Unsure of what to do, or what not to do? Social Media marketer, Richenda Vermeulen and lawyer, Leanne O'Donnell partner to bring some clarity.

An Australian View of the U.S. Proposals for ISP Provisions in the TPP

An Australian View of the U.S. Proposals for ISP Provisions in the TPP

infojustice.org — On Sunday 4 March, I attended the stakeholders' forum at the 11th round of the Trans-Pacific Negotiations in Melbourne. I am particularly interested in the intellectual property chapter given my involvement in landmark copyright litigation in Australia.

#iitrial - Australia's first twitter hashtag to go from trial to the High Court?

#iitrial - Australia's first twitter hashtag to go from trial to the High Court?

Alternative Law Journal — On 4 February 2010, I woke at 5:00am to fly to Sydney to hear the judgment in Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd, the first trial in the world to proceed to judgment involving a suit against an internet service provider ('ISP') claiming copyright infringement on its part due to alleged authorisation of the copyright infringement of its users.

Radio Atticus 2011

Radio Atticus 2011

2SER — Leanne O’Donnell, Radio Atticus media and intellectual property law commentator

Discovery a digital dilemma in the terabyte age

Discovery a digital dilemma in the terabyte age

iTnews — The Australian Law Reform Commission has released a consultation paper on the discovery of documents for Federal Court cases, highlighting the complexities of litigation in the age of the terabyte. Among the issues raised in the consultation paper is "the impact of technology on the discovery of documents".

Analysis: Where to now for ACTA?

Analysis: Where to now for ACTA?

iTnews — The release of what has been described as the 'final draft' of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) came as some relief to the service provider community, particularly after some of the more draconian suggestions in previous drafts appeared to have been scrapped.
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