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We’ve all had those annoying cold calls from telemarketers trying to sell us something, and wondered “how on earth did you get my details?” When it started happening to data scientist Priya Dev, who diligently tries to protect her own data privacy, she decided to find out.
Her investigation led her all the way back to 2014 and into the labyrinthine world of “data brokers”. These companies collect our personal information from organisations such as energy retailers, telcos, insurance providers and even political parties – and then sell it for profit. Even though they almost always do this without obtaining our explicit consent, the practice is legal.
This would still be the case under the federal government’s newly proposed privacy reforms, which Priya says are a small step in the right direction, rather than the giant leap we need.
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Drew Rooke
Assistant Science + Technology Editor
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Priya Dev, Australian National University
After receiving dozens of unwanted calls from telemarketers, I started to investigate.
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Peter Breadon, Grattan Institute; Kate Griffiths, Grattan Institute
More Australians delay or skip dental care because of cost than their peers in most wealthy countries. Adding dental to Medicare wouldn’t be easy, but it would vastly improve Australians’ health.
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Brendan Clift, The University of Melbourne
In recent years, Australia has been dubbed the “defamation capital of the world”. High-profile legal stoushes in the headlines seem to back this up. How can we reconcile this with freedom of speech?
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Hunter Fujak, Deakin University; Joshua McLeod, Deakin University
It’s AFL and NRL award season and analysis suggests the Brownlow Medal and Dally M voting systems are far from perfect.
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Rachel Paltridge, The University of Western Australia; Clifford Sunfly, Indigenous Knowledge; Nicholas Leseberg, The University of Queensland
Urgent action is now needed to protect these vulnerable populations and ensure the night parrot doesn’t become extinct.
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Laura Case, University of Sydney
Violins are the largest section of the orchestra, sitting front and centre of the stage performing memorable melodies. But how did the modern orchestra get this set up?
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Jeffrey McNeill, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University
If New Zealand wants to see real improvement in community-level services and infrastructure, we need to finally make a decision on the true purpose of regional, city and district councils.
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Tony Hughes-d'Aeth, The University of Western Australia
We are accustomed to regarding history as linear, punctuated by moments, events and personages. What if this is not what is happening?
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Politics + Society
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Jack Wilson, University of Sydney; Emily Stockings, University of Sydney; Steph Kershaw, University of Sydney
The attributes that make many athletes great, like risk-taking and aggression, are a reason why some turn to illegal drugs.
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Susan Hutchinson, Australian National University
Afghan women are turning to social media, singing in protest against new Taliban laws banning their voices in public. They sing to prove they still exist.
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Health + Medicine
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Benny Zuse Rousso, Griffith University; Regina Souter, Griffith University
Our new research shows weak infrastructure and climate events such as cyclones and floods make sanitation conditions even poorer for many people living in the Pacific Islands.
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Michael Henry, University of South Australia; Lorimer Moseley, University of South Australia
One clue is the nature of pain and its powerful effect on our thoughts and behaviours.
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Science + Technology
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Uri Gal, University of Sydney
A string of recent deals by the cutting-edge AI company suggest an interest in large amounts of behavioural, health and biometric data.
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Environment + Energy
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David T. Hill, Murdoch University
Whether it’s electric two-wheelers or trucks, buses or bicycles, electric vehicles in India are hard to miss.
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Education
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Sally Patfield, University of Newcastle
In September, many universities are making early offers to Year 12 students. This is a contentious practice but research shows it can provide much-needed support to young people.
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Arts + Culture
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Ben Green, Griffith University; Sam Whiting, RMIT University
Thanks to dynamic pricing, tickets for Green Day reached $500. Is this the new normal for live music?
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Books + Ideas
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Alexander Howard, University of Sydney
The shadow of Ayn Rand (beloved by Donald Trump and Elon Musk) looms large over new novels by Lexi Freiman and Lionel Shriver, which satirise cancel culture. One of them is a useful critique of our age.
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Business + Economy
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Wenting He, Australian National University
Having navigated a government crackdown on billionaires, tech tycoon Pony Ma is once again the richest person in China. Could spring be coming for the country’s private sector?
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Dan Fastnedge, Auckland University of Technology; Melissa L. Gould, Auckland University of Technology
Ads for the Hell Pizza chain regularly invite complaints on religious grounds. But none have been upheld, reflecting more tolerant standards in an increasingly less Christian country.
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