Today’s Top 5 Things to Know in Australia

The Australian Government is taking steps to improve network resilience with a $17.4 million investment in the Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation program. This funding will support 33 projects focused on enhancing power backups, portable generators, satellite communications, and wide-area Wi-Fi networks. Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the importance of boosting the resilience of telecommunications networks during critical times.

In another initiative, the Australian Government is trialling age verification technology to protect children from harmful online content such as pornography and age-restricted services. The pilot program aims to address extreme misogyny online and prevent access to damaging material. Additionally, plans are in place to ban the creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfakes. Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland stressed the responsibility of digital platforms to meet community standards and address online harms.

On the tech front, Dropbox disclosed a data breach involving its ‘Sign’ product for digital signatures. The breach, discovered on April 24, exposed user data such as emails, usernames, phone numbers, hashed passwords, and authentication information. Despite this breach, Dropbox assured users that there was no evidence of compromised accounts or payment information.

Meanwhile, Rabbit, the popular AI gadget, faced scrutiny over allegations that it was simply an Android app on new hardware. Rabbit’s developers denied these claims, stating that their OS and LAM run on the cloud with bespoke firmware modifications. In a similar move to Fortnite, TikTok is reportedly circumventing Apple’s App Store fees by allowing users to purchase coins from its website, potentially saving on service fees.

Stay tuned for more updates on these tech developments.