samantha floreani
@floreani.bsky.social
digital rights advocate / writer / PhD candidate researching tech + housing justice 🏠 surveillance isn't safety xoxo
samanthafloreani.com
samanthafloreani.com
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samantha floreani
@floreani.bsky.social
· Jun 18
The Machine-Readable Renter — Samantha Floreani
Participants needed! Are you a renter in Australia? Have you ever used tech to find and apply for a home, log maintenance, or pay rent? I want to speak with you!
www.samanthafloreani.com
I’m researching ways that digital technologies in Australia's private rental sector are impacting renters and housing justice.
I’m looking for more interview participants. If you are a renter and have experience using ‘RentTech’ - I want to speak with you!
More info and EOI here:
I’m looking for more interview participants. If you are a renter and have experience using ‘RentTech’ - I want to speak with you!
More info and EOI here:
and if you're a property manager and use an online application platform or property management app in your work - now's a great time to scrutinise the tech you're using, get in contact with them, and ask them what they're doing to make sure that they have proper security controls are in place
Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says
Exclusive: ‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:25 AM
and if you're a property manager and use an online application platform or property management app in your work - now's a great time to scrutinise the tech you're using, get in contact with them, and ask them what they're doing to make sure that they have proper security controls are in place
if you're a renter and have had to use an online application platform or a property management app - now's a great time to reach out to your property manager, link them this article, and ask them what they're doing to make sure that the tech they're using is keeping your data secure
Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says
Exclusive: ‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:22 AM
if you're a renter and have had to use an online application platform or a property management app - now's a great time to reach out to your property manager, link them this article, and ask them what they're doing to make sure that the tech they're using is keeping your data secure
Reposted by samantha floreani
On the platforms used by real estate agents for renters, documents are exposed and accessible without any form of login, according to research.
I was able to view applications and lease agreements among other docs exposed. Most of the platforms didn't respond. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I was able to view applications and lease agreements among other docs exposed. Most of the platforms didn't respond. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says
‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:03 PM
On the platforms used by real estate agents for renters, documents are exposed and accessible without any form of login, according to research.
I was able to view applications and lease agreements among other docs exposed. Most of the platforms didn't respond. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I was able to view applications and lease agreements among other docs exposed. Most of the platforms didn't respond. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
This is off the back of reporting from @joshtaylor.bsky.social. Also big kudos to the anonymous security researcher who discovered these vulnerabilities and - at no small personal risk - raised the alarm with the companies, the OAIC and later, the media.
Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says
Exclusive: ‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:50 AM
This is off the back of reporting from @joshtaylor.bsky.social. Also big kudos to the anonymous security researcher who discovered these vulnerabilities and - at no small personal risk - raised the alarm with the companies, the OAIC and later, the media.
News came out today of serious security vulnerabilities in seven popular Australian ‘RentTech’ platforms, leaving millions of documents containing renter personal information exposed. Renters often have no choice but to use these apps in order to secure housing.
I wrote about it for the Guardian:
I wrote about it for the Guardian:
Why should renters like me have to trade away our privacy just to get a roof over our heads? | Samantha Floreani
The rise in real estate tech means renters often hand over huge amounts of revealing information to digital third parties – at great risk
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:15 AM
News came out today of serious security vulnerabilities in seven popular Australian ‘RentTech’ platforms, leaving millions of documents containing renter personal information exposed. Renters often have no choice but to use these apps in order to secure housing.
I wrote about it for the Guardian:
I wrote about it for the Guardian:
rent tech platforms looking at the hoards of renter data they collect like
February 2, 2026 at 5:46 AM
rent tech platforms looking at the hoards of renter data they collect like
Reposted by samantha floreani
"An analysis of seven rent platforms ... revealed millions of leasing documents could be accessed by threat actors."
Thanks to negligent privacy practices, it is easy to access troves of highly sensitive information stored on rental management platforms www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Thanks to negligent privacy practices, it is easy to access troves of highly sensitive information stored on rental management platforms www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says
Exclusive: ‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:42 AM
"An analysis of seven rent platforms ... revealed millions of leasing documents could be accessed by threat actors."
Thanks to negligent privacy practices, it is easy to access troves of highly sensitive information stored on rental management platforms www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Thanks to negligent privacy practices, it is easy to access troves of highly sensitive information stored on rental management platforms www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Across the country, renters are living in properties with no insulation, poor sealing, broken or inadequate fans or no cooling options at all. Others technically have air conditioning, but they are in such extreme rental stress they can’t afford to turn it on."
Australia’s heatwaves are getting deadlier – and renters are paying the price | Maiy Azize
Some are trapped in a vicious cycle: rising rents, rising energy bills and falling standards. But this is not inevitable
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:56 AM
"Across the country, renters are living in properties with no insulation, poor sealing, broken or inadequate fans or no cooling options at all. Others technically have air conditioning, but they are in such extreme rental stress they can’t afford to turn it on."
'my apartment is my friend' because it gives me those sweet rent payments
January 24, 2026 at 2:45 AM
'my apartment is my friend' because it gives me those sweet rent payments
lmaoooooooo very good
January 24, 2026 at 2:44 AM
lmaoooooooo very good
far less jogging and pared back dancing but honestly, yeah! I was super impressed with his voice and energy
January 24, 2026 at 2:43 AM
far less jogging and pared back dancing but honestly, yeah! I was super impressed with his voice and energy
had to laugh at the Gen Xers around me at the david byrne gig getting excited about the anti-fascist and revolutionary spirit as footage of police and protest played behind 'Life During Wartime'. SUSAN I heard your pre-show chat, the only thing you're protesting is threats to negative gearing
January 24, 2026 at 1:51 AM
had to laugh at the Gen Xers around me at the david byrne gig getting excited about the anti-fascist and revolutionary spirit as footage of police and protest played behind 'Life During Wartime'. SUSAN I heard your pre-show chat, the only thing you're protesting is threats to negative gearing
ahhh yes I didn't go down this line, but glad you enjoyed it anyway, thanks kristin :)
January 17, 2026 at 12:39 AM
ahhh yes I didn't go down this line, but glad you enjoyed it anyway, thanks kristin :)
Reposted by samantha floreani
brilliantly spicy take on ai and automation from the always on point @floreani.bsky.social
get in girlies, we're talking surveillance! we're talking the fantasy of automation propped up by humans! we're talking unfulfilled promises of tech to reduce household labour! we're talking funwashing of robots made for warfare!
Aside from creepy surveillance, what are ‘consumer-ready’ service robots actually for? | Samantha Floreani
For A$30k you could have a remote employee see inside your home via a walking, talking machine with a chilling blank face. Count me out
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:43 AM
brilliantly spicy take on ai and automation from the always on point @floreani.bsky.social
thank you linda ☺️
January 16, 2026 at 6:39 AM
thank you linda ☺️
get in girlies, we're talking surveillance! we're talking the fantasy of automation propped up by humans! we're talking unfulfilled promises of tech to reduce household labour! we're talking funwashing of robots made for warfare!
Aside from creepy surveillance, what are ‘consumer-ready’ service robots actually for? | Samantha Floreani
For A$30k you could have a remote employee see inside your home via a walking, talking machine with a chilling blank face. Count me out
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:46 AM
get in girlies, we're talking surveillance! we're talking the fantasy of automation propped up by humans! we're talking unfulfilled promises of tech to reduce household labour! we're talking funwashing of robots made for warfare!
Reposted by samantha floreani
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has begun spot compliance audits, checking that real estate businesses are properly applying their privacy policies www.cyberdaily.au/digital-tran... cc @floreani.bsky.social
Peak real estate body issues warning over compliance audits
One of Australia’s peak real estate bodies has issued a warning that the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has begun spot compliance audits, checking that real estate businesses...
www.cyberdaily.au
January 14, 2026 at 3:46 AM
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has begun spot compliance audits, checking that real estate businesses are properly applying their privacy policies www.cyberdaily.au/digital-tran... cc @floreani.bsky.social
Reposted by samantha floreani
hey Victorian renters! if you've used 'RentTech' (think online application platforms, rent payment apps, property management portals), please spend ~5 minutes to share your experience in this survey to contribute to important @cprc-research.bsky.social research: cprc.limesurvey.net/594888?lang=en
December 18, 2025 at 11:51 PM
hey Victorian renters! if you've used 'RentTech' (think online application platforms, rent payment apps, property management portals), please spend ~5 minutes to share your experience in this survey to contribute to important @cprc-research.bsky.social research: cprc.limesurvey.net/594888?lang=en
Reposted by samantha floreani
“Each of these acts may be insignificant, but an orientation toward friction is really the only defense we have against the life-annihilating suction of technologies of escape.” www.thecut.com/article/broo...
In 2026, We Are Friction-Maxxing
In the face of technologies that sell us escapism at every turn, we need to build up tolerance for “inconvenience.”
www.thecut.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:18 PM
“Each of these acts may be insignificant, but an orientation toward friction is really the only defense we have against the life-annihilating suction of technologies of escape.” www.thecut.com/article/broo...
Reposted by samantha floreani
Bendigo Writers Festival, Meanjin, now Adelaide Writers … powerful vested interests would rather destroy the cultural institutions they are supposedly responsible for than allow certain voices to be heard
Adelaide Festival board facing a stark choice: Are they willing to sacrifice the entire festival to prevent a single Palestinian-Australian author from speaking?
January 9, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Bendigo Writers Festival, Meanjin, now Adelaide Writers … powerful vested interests would rather destroy the cultural institutions they are supposedly responsible for than allow certain voices to be heard
"the instinct to submit online strangers to viral discipline is given a faux-radical sheen. It’s a kind of casual blackmail that warns everyone to conform or be exposed"
lux-magazine.com/article/priv...
lux-magazine.com/article/priv...
Bringing Sexy Back
Internet surveillance has killed eroticism. We need privacy to reclaim it.
lux-magazine.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:47 AM
"the instinct to submit online strangers to viral discipline is given a faux-radical sheen. It’s a kind of casual blackmail that warns everyone to conform or be exposed"
lux-magazine.com/article/priv...
lux-magazine.com/article/priv...
a decent rental home may be out of reach for me but a banger thesis isn't
January 7, 2026 at 2:11 AM
a decent rental home may be out of reach for me but a banger thesis isn't
one of the great things about doing a phd on renting x tech is that I can convince myself that searching + applying for rentals isn't procrastinating, it's research. one of the not-great things about this how fucked it is. one of the great things about this is that it re-motivates me back to the phd
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 AM
one of the great things about doing a phd on renting x tech is that I can convince myself that searching + applying for rentals isn't procrastinating, it's research. one of the not-great things about this how fucked it is. one of the great things about this is that it re-motivates me back to the phd
hey Victorian renters! if you've used 'RentTech' (think online application platforms, rent payment apps, property management portals), please spend ~5 minutes to share your experience in this survey to contribute to important @cprc-research.bsky.social research: cprc.limesurvey.net/594888?lang=en
December 18, 2025 at 11:51 PM
hey Victorian renters! if you've used 'RentTech' (think online application platforms, rent payment apps, property management portals), please spend ~5 minutes to share your experience in this survey to contribute to important @cprc-research.bsky.social research: cprc.limesurvey.net/594888?lang=en
Reposted by samantha floreani
I wrote about Kalshi, prediction markets, and the vision of total financialization by turning every opinion into a tradable assets www.fastcompany.com/91457404/kal...
The Kalshi-fication of everything
The predictions platform is revealing what a world of total financialization will look like.
www.fastcompany.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I wrote about Kalshi, prediction markets, and the vision of total financialization by turning every opinion into a tradable assets www.fastcompany.com/91457404/kal...