Media Release

Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc.

31st March 2000

          EFA Announces Appointment of Executive Director

Internet freedom watchdog Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today
announced the appointment of Peter Upton to the role of Executive Director.
Mr Upton will run the EFA national office from Canberra.

Mr. Upton has an extensive background in public affairs, public relations,
marketing, lobbying and issues management.  He was Executive Director of the
Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) from 1992 to January
2000.  Previously he was Executive Vice-President of Burson-Marsteller Inc.,
one of the top three communication companies worldwide, from 1988 to 1992.
He has also held positions with Hill and Knowlton Australia Pty Ltd, Eric
White Associates and the Australian Public Service.

Announcing the appointment today, EFA Chair Kimberley Heitman said, "The
civil liberties of Internet users remain under constant threat.  As well as
the ongoing hot issue of Internet censorship, there are strong indications
that the government's forthcoming privacy legislation will not adequately
protect Internet users' privacy. It may even encourage infringement of
privacy by businesses.  We are also seeing threats to consumers' ability to
find out whether software products are fit for purpose, as shown by Mattel's
use of US copyright law in an attempt to silence criticism of their
CyberPatrol blocking software - a product approved by the Federal Government
and the Internet Industry Association of Australia without testing for
fitness for purpose."

"Mr Upton brings a wealth of experience and ideas to EFA at this critical
juncture", Mr Heitman continued. "We look forward to EFA becoming a more
effective force as a result of this appointment."

Speaking in Canberra today, Mr Upton said, "EFA has an important role to
play in supporting and defending the public interest in the adequate
protection of privacy, especially in the new electronic media, and in the
maintenance of the strongest possible legal right for adults to access such
media and information as they choose.  I hope to be able to make a strong
contribution in these key areas".


[ENDS]

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      Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc  --  http://www.efa.org.au/
      representing Internet users concerned about on-line freedoms
      Email: [email protected]    Phone: 02 9255 7969   Fax: 02 9255 7736
      URL of this release:  http://www.efa.org.au/Publish/PR000331.html      
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      Media Contacts:

      Kim Heitman                           Peter Upton
      Phone: 08 9214 2204                   Phone: 0428 624 970
      [email protected]                   [email protected]

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