A whistleblower and an academic have said pressure from the Australian government’s top cyber security agency led to their speeches being cancelled at a conference in Melbourne.
Former NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake, and Melbourne University academic Dr Suelette Dreyfus were both due to speak at the Australian Cyber Conference in Melbourne this week, but were told by officials that their speeches had been cancelled.
The Australian Information Security Association advised them of the cancellation, but it is understood it came after pressure from the event partner, Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Australian government’s peak cyber security agency.