TOTT News

The age of technology has been unprecedented in Australia: from intrusive spying capabilities by governments, to incoming 5G concerns, to the speed disinformation can be spread, as we have seen with recent vegan ‘protests’.

On the latest episode of the General Knowledge Podcast, Ethan Nash from TOTT News and General Maddox and Andy from Real News Australia discuss the latest news from our platforms, including foreign spying on Australia, NBN-5G links, protest laws, media propaganda and more.

Surveillance systems, most notably CCTV cameras and advanced biometric technologies, have expanded at an unprecedented rate in Australia since the events of September 11th, and today have become a security staple of governments, private businesses and individuals alike.

Authorities and experts have both raised concerns that some of the most popular brands of cameras, drones and other accessories in Australia, are being used as a surveillance intermediary for foreign entities, particularly the Chinese government.

Powerful new automation technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced robotics, are beginning to transform the Australian economy and have now spread to the $3 billion online grocery market.

This week, Coles have announced they will be launching a new “electronic workforce” by 2023, while Woolworths have begun first tests of their new automated warehouse, leaving experts concerned that advancing technologies may cost Australians over five million jobs.

Controversial ‘driver assistance technology’, including black-box data recorders, which monitor everything from a vehicle’s speed to ‘driver condition’, could become mandatory for all new cars in Europe after an approval from the EU.

Experts have warned that international ‘standard approvals’ will force Australian companies to import most new model cars with the same surveillance technology installed.

China has been developing what some are describing as a chilling digital dictatorship, with a new national system that monitors all citizens on a 24/7 basis and ranks them on their behaviour set to be fully operational by 2020.

Could Australia be incrementally setting up a blueprint for a similar system here in the future? In the following subscription piece, we explore the latest developments in digital surveillance from both countries.

The world is changing at an unprecedented rate. Advancements in technological capabilities and systems have developed to a point where most of the modern world has become highly dependent on digital governing systems for sustainability and functions.

In the following membership piece, we take a look at the rise of a new age technological dystopia, including the history and development of biometrics and biometric technology, monitoring characteristics, the modern digital era in Australia and the rise of China’s ‘Social Credit System’.

Perth Airport has become Australia’s second international airport to begin installing new facial recognition smart gates, following an initial pilot trial introduced at Canberra Airport last year.

The Australian government has stated their intended goal is to automate 90% of air traveler processing by 2020, and is on track to replace passports with biometric capabilities after signing new contracts with technology vendors for a national rollout.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is responsible for operating Australia’s largest gas and electricity systems, including the National Electricity Market (NEM) – the interconnected power system in Australia’s eastern and south-eastern seaboard.

Inside of a secret room at an undisclosed location in Sydney, half-a-dozen engineers are employed by the AEMO to operate a control room that regulates distribution of power generation to 80% of Australia.

New reports released have revealed Australia’s shift to a digital economy is accelerating.

New legislation allows authorities access to your encrypted information.