Helping you navigate digitisation and new technologies
Digitisation and technology are reshaping the world. Businesses need to understand, adopt, and leverage digitisation and new technologies to survive, compete and thrive in a competitive and complex environment. Government and regulators need to support and incentivise the adoption of new technologies to create growth while understanding and mitigating the new threats that arise from them.
Our leading technology lawyers have significant experience in strategic issues, complex technology contracts, IP and software commercialisation, digitalisation and IT transformation.
Our Telecommunications Insights
CSP registrations and higher penalties – round two of enhancing telecommunications Consumer Safeguards
For the second time this year, the Australian Government has announced proposed changes to the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) (the Act) that will require carriage service providers (CSPs) to register on the “CSP Register”, significantly strengthen the ACMA’s compliance and enforcement powers and increase penalties for breaches of telecommunications regulations.
18 September 2025
Strengthening ACMA powers, high penalties and a new CSP registration scheme
On 21 January 2025, the Australian Government announced proposed changes to the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) (the Act) that significantly strengthen the ACMA’s compliance and enforcement powers and increase penalties for breaches of telecommunications regulation.
21 February 2025
An Omnibus Cyber Security and Infrastructure Package
The Government has released a legislative package that implements a range of initiatives aimed at improving Australia’s cyber security consistent with its 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy.
14 October 2024
Can the data centre goldrush go green? Malaysia’s Johor shows we can move fast, but more is needed
Johor sits at the southern tip of Malaysia, minutes away from neighbouring Singapore. Lesser known than the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and less developed than its most populous state of Selangor, Johor – and its capital Johor Bahru – are rapidly rising in prominence.
29 August 2024
Talk is cheap: rural coverage not so
Currently, Telstra as the statutory universal service provider is required to supply fixed voice services and payphones to people nationally on reasonable request and nbn is the default wholesale provider of broadband services nationally under the Statutory Infrastructure Provider (SIP) regime. The Government has signalled that it will take a conservative approach to USO reform. The Government will need solid evidence that alternative technologies (i.e. something other than fixed lines) can deliver an acceptable level of service to make them suitable substitutes before it makes changes to the USO.
31 October 2023
It’s not too late to have your say: Access to tower structures for telco equipment + feasibility of temporary mobile roaming in emergencies
The ACCC has started its inquiry into regional mobile infrastructure by publishing its consultation paper (Consultation Paper).
28 July 2022
Shifting sands – moves away from carriers owning towers and facilities – what next?
The world of telecommunications facilities access is undergoing unprecedented change.
27 May 2022
ACCC consultation on access to telco facilities – will you be caught even though you’re not a carrier?
If an entity in your corporate group has a carrier licence, and a different entity in the group owns or operates telecommunications facilities (like mobile towers), you should be aware of the expansion of the telecommunications facilities access regime under the Telecommunications Act.
21 April 2022
Access to infrastructure for communications – Could your assets be conscripted?
Minister Fletcher has directed the ACCC to conduct a public inquiry into access to regional towers, and into the feasibility of providing mobile roaming during natural disasters or other emergencies.
05 April 2022
Of charlatans and poor choices: how restrictions on crypto assets are growing worldwide
Yet the ancient origin of the word goes to the essence of today’s regulatory tension: ‘crypto’ has its origin in the Greek word ‘kruptos’, meaning ‘hidden’. Governments and regulators around the world are working to bring crypto assets into view.
22 February 2022
Our Space & Satellites Insights
Multilateralism and jurisdiction in space: The ultimate cross-border transaction?
The space sector is faced with the challenge of re-imagining what cooperation, multilateralism, sovereignty and jurisdiction should look like in a new age.
02 October 2025
Venturing into space: IP, insurance and other legal issues to have on your radar
The space sector is in the midst of a rapid transformation. The global space economy was valued at over $450 billion by 2022, and some analysts project it could reach $1.8 trillion by 2035.
22 September 2025
Australia in space: 2025 trendlines
With the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) set to touch down in Sydney on 29 September, all eyes are on Australia’s rapidly evolving space sector. In the first half of 2025 alone, local operators have landed world-first re-entries, raised nine-figure rounds and bolstered Australia’s claim to “end-to-end” capability – from sovereign launch pads to orbital servicing. As the industry gears up to explore the IAC theme of “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth”, we take a look at what’s been keeping the Australian space sector busy in 2025 to-date, and the trends and challenges we see on the horizon.
05 September 2025
Space: from renewables to remote access, how the final frontier is solving Earth's problems
Space exploration and activities are helping to solve critical issues for our planet. Key among them are innovative technologies accelerating the transition to a net zero economy and closing the digital divide by bringing internet access to remote regions.
04 December 2023
Lifting our gaze: an update on the Australian space industry and satellite cyber security
The Australian space industry has cause for excitement after a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister of Australia and the President of the United States on 20 May 2023.
26 May 2023
2024 Space Sector Insights Briefing
Discover the latest insights and trends in the space industry and on financing space assets. Dale Rayner, Urszula McCormack, Annabel Griffin and Lauren Bourke bring you up to speed on what financiers, and those being financed, need to know.
Our Technology Insights
Federal Budget 2026-27: The digital economy / AI and Technology
Other notable allocations include $198.1 million to modernise business registers and extend participation in the Consumer Data Right, $160.4 million for the Services Australia Cyber Security Uplift program, and $112.7 million to address online gambling harms.
12 May 2026
Proceed with caution! Privacy lessons from Bunnings & Privacy Commissioner
Bunnings’ use of facial recognition technology (FRT) to identify and deal with unlawful activity by repeat offenders was permitted under the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) (Privacy Act) according to the Administrative Review Tribunal (Tribunal).
16 February 2026
Technology is shaping productivity: Lessons from the 2025 KWM Digital Future Summit
How is technology changing what productivity means? And how can it secure our digital future across the region?
03 September 2025
When innovation meets regulation: The KWM Digital Future Summit 2024
Trust, safety, security and the regulators’ rise were central to messages shared across the 11 sessions at the KWM Digital Future Summit 2024, which culminated in a focus on the technology and innovation that is at the heart of our energy transition.
03 September 2024
Tech Reg Revolution: Transforming tomorrow's economy
Navigate the dynamic tech landscape and stay ahead of developments with KWM’s technology regulatory tracker.
30 April 2024
The Metaverse: So What Is It, Exactly?
The metaverse is a predicted next wave of the internet, characterised by 3D computing, immersive technologies, interconnection and changes to how users interact with the internet.• The metaverse is a predicted next wave of the internet, characterised by 3D computing, immersive technologies, interconnection and changes to how users interact with the internet.
24 October 2022
Only the link: Google not liable for defamation
In allowing the appeal, the majority found that, in circumstances where Google did not participate in the writing or dissemination of the defamatory article, the provision of the hyperlink merely facilitated access to the article. Google neither “lent assistance” to the original publisher, nor did it participate in any “bilateral process” of, communicating the article to third-party users.
18 August 2022
5 key issues in negotiating cloud contracts
With the promise of cost savings, greater flexibility and ability to scale, it is not surprising that companies are continuing to move their key business applications and data to the cloud.
15 August 2022
The High Court to decide – are computer implemented inventions patentable? Aristocrat v Commissioner of Patents
Gaming company Aristocrat is appealing a decision of the Full Federal Court that its computer implemented invention relating to electronic gaming machines with particular features is not patentable.
09 June 2022
