Lobby groups tell Victorian inquiry legitimate churches could be caught up in any proposed crackdown on coercive practices * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Two Christian lobby groups have pushed back against any new laws to protect vulnerable people from cults, with a Victorian inquiry told of a “palpable fear” they could affect mainstream churches. The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and Freedom for Faith were among witnesses to appear before the parliamentary inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups on Tuesday. Continue reading...

The tool's creators are seeking to make it so that AI model developers must pay artists to train on data from them that is uncorrupted.

A new age verification code will soon apply to search engines, with huge implications for privacy and inclusion The way we use the internet in Australia is changing. Soon, it won’t just be social media platforms asking to verify your age. Come December, age verification requirements will also extend to search engines – with significant ramifications. That means you may need to scan your face or do an identity check to use a search engine as a logged-in user. And it’s unlikely to stop there: the eSafety commissioner is considering rules for mandatory age checks across the entire internet landscape. Samantha Floreani is a digital rights advocate and writer based in Melbourne/Naarm Continue reading...

Nearly all of the 10 panelists emphasized what they said were risks of the drugs. Some claimed, without evidence, that antidepressants don't work at all.

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.