Youth Privacy in Australia: Insights from National Policy Dialogues

Throughout the fall of 2024, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), in partnership with the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet) and Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), convened a series of three expert panel discussions across Australia exploring the intersection of privacy, security, and online safety for young people. This event series built on the success of a fall 2023 one-day event that FPF hosted on privacy, safety, and security regarding industry standards promulgated by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety).

These discussions took place in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, and brought together leading academics, government representatives, industry voices, and civil society organizations. The discussions provide insight into the Australian approach to improving online experiences for young people through law and regulation, policy, and education. By bringing together experts across disciplines, the event series aimed to bridge divides between privacy, security, and safety conversations, and surface key tensions and opportunities for future work. This report summarizes key themes that emerged across these conversations for policymakers to consider as they develop forward-looking policies that support young people’s wellbeing and rights online.