Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: The government clear the decks on its policy logjam, with privacy reforms dumped until after the election; new AI rules, and heavy fines on scam ads. Plus, the boss of Disrupt Radio - where staff have gone unpaid for nearly two months - claims: “Start-ups are not for the salaried and superannuated”.

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Privacy reforms move to the ‘too-hard’ basket; Don’t expect salaries and super, Disrupt Radio founder tells staff

It’s a frenetic day for government policy announcements with major consequences for the marketing industry.

Most notably, The Guardian has broken the news that the most consequential reforms to the Privacy Act have been moved to “the too-hard basket”, and are likely to be dumped to the other side of the election.

Also today, the government is announcing a crackdown on scam ads with fines for the digital platforms that carry them. What’s unclear is whether this will extend to media brands (most local news outlets) who carry Google Display Network content.

And the government has also kicked off a fortnight long consultation period around a new set of voluntary rules on AI usage.

Sticking with AI, Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Cat McGinn and Abe Udy also examine the launch of Seven’s The AI Factory - is it substance or spin?

And the team discusses the latest on the ailing Disrupt Radio. Founder Ben Roberts told The Australian today that the real problem for unpaid staff isn’t their empty bank accounts, but that they’re not used to what he sees as the realities of life in a startup.

“Start-ups are not for the salaried and superannuated, and I made it very clear to people I personally hired that it might be a bit of a rollercoaster.

"It’s been particularly difficult for those who haven’t been through the rough and tumble of a start-up before,” he told The Oz.

Further reading:

* The Guardian: Get a VPN and delete your cookies, Australia’s privacy laws are still lagging behind

“Are we the baddies?”

* Brisbane Times: Up to $50m fine for banks, telcos, social media firms in war on scams

* Australian Government: Voluntary AI Safety Standard

* Seven West Media: Seven opens the AI Factory

* Unmade: Disrupt Radio goes off air

* The Australian: Disrupt Radio hits turbulence: unable to pay staff and the station is taken off DAB+

Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinn

Editing was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.

Time to leave you to start your week. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Toodlepip…

Tim Burrowes

Publisher - Unmade

[email protected]

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