![Data is at the heart of today’s government services. This is reflected in the federal government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy (the Strategy), which highlights its goal to use data, analytics, and technology to deliver simple, accessible services for people and businesses by 2030. As noted in the strategy, Australians expect personalised, integrated, and easy-to-use services from government entities they engage with. Such personalisation, especially across digital channels, is heavily dependent on data. Delivering such services becomes more effective when the data is more accurate and up-to-date. This is where real-time data comes into play. Why? Real-time data is more accurate because it is always up-to-date. This, in turn, improves the customer experience by enabling services to be more dynamic and interactive. However, because batch processing still accounts for the majority of data processing in government ranks, even the most recent data may become outdated when used to deliver government services. Engage with data in motion Batch processing is when the processing and analysis happen on a set of data that has already been stored for a period of time. This may be days, weeks, or even months, which just doesn't cut it for delivering dynamic and interactive citizen services. In recent years, data streaming has emerged as the technology that allows organizations to tap into their data in real-time in order to improve citizen engagement and experience. Event streaming, another name for data streaming, describes the continuous flow of data as it occurs. This enables true real-time processing and analysis for immediate insights. Streaming data distinguishes itself from batch processing by delivering the most up-to-date information when required. Apache Kafka, one of the most successful open source projects, is used by over 70% of Fortune 500 companies today and is well recognised as the de facto standard for data streaming. The open-source nature of Kafka lowered the entry barrier for working with streaming data, allowing companies to easily build use cases and solutions. However, as with all open-source software, there are limitations. Companies often end up spending more to efficiently manage, scale, secure, and evolve the streaming infrastructure. Why are we still using batch processing if data streaming is the future? Batch processing is still simpler to implement than stream processing, and successfully moving from batch to streaming requires a significant change to a team’s habits and processes, as well as a meaningful upfront investment. That is why Confluent has rearchitected Kafka to create a complete platform that provides a fully managed, cloud-native data streaming solution with the ability to turn data events into outcomes, enable real-time apps, and empower teams and systems to act on data instantly. Personalised for the people Confluent’s ability to utilise data as a continually updating stream of events rather than discrete snapshots means that public sector organisations can leverage data streaming to improve citizen engagement by offering personalised, data-driven services and insights. Confluent’s data streaming platform also enables real-time monitoring and analysis of government services and infrastructure, allowing public sector entities to quickly respond to critical events such as natural disasters or public health emergencies. At a more mundane level, Confluent supports data sharing and collaboration among government agencies, facilitating the seamless exchange of information to serve the public better and optimise resource allocation. And, importantly for government organisations, Confluent’s data streaming capabilities can enhance cyber security by detecting and mitigating threats in real time and safeguarding sensitive government data—a critical element in maintaining our national security. Indeed, 53% of Australian businesses surveyed in a recent Confluent study cited security and compliance awareness as the most applicable use cases for data streaming. It should come as little surprise, then, that industry analyst firm Forrester views Confluent as “an excellent fit for organisations that need to support a high-performance, scalable, multi-cloud data pipeline with extreme resilience.” Streamlining service improvement Data streaming is driving greater efficiency in more than three of four companies across Asia Pacific, according to Confluent research. Meanwhile, 65% of IT leaders polled see significant or emerging product and service benefits from data streaming. With this in mind, the potential for the government to do more with its data is clear, and personalisation is top of mind. Personalising citizen service experiences requires knowing who a customer is at any given moment. This is made possible by accessing data in motion, especially across multiple touchpoints. At the very least, this can help citizens avoid having to provide the same information over and over again as they interact with government agencies. And now, with Confluent assessed under the Australian Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP), government agencies with an Information Security Manual PROTECTED level requirement can use Confluent Cloud across Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Australian government agencies will then be able to gather and share data across departments, offices, and agencies securely and at scale. This means even more government agencies will be able to tap data in motion to integrate information across their applications and systems in real time and reinvent employee and citizen experiences for the better.](https://publicspectrum.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Confluent-Advertorial.png)
Channel Seven experienced a security breach that led to the unauthorised modification of all their videos.
A Tesla channel that features a live stream of an AI version of Elon Musk has taken over Channel Seven’s YouTube pages. A cyber attack has targeted Seven’s YouTube pages, including 7 News, Spotlight, and the old Today Tonight channel.
Musk’s live video has replaced the original videos. Watch this video showcasing an AI-generated voice promoting a website that allows users to deposit funds using popular cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Dogecoin, or Bitcoin.
The video assures viewers that placing their bitcoin on the site will result in them receiving twice the amount they deposited. The stream lasted for 5 hours and drew in a large audience, making it one of the most recommended live videos on YouTube.
It appears that Seven’s primary YouTube landing site is currently experiencing technical difficulties, as it is displaying an error message.
There is a strong likelihood that hackers deliberately singled out Musk as their target in order to create a deep fake and exploit his influence for the promotion of their site. Musk’s tweets, especially those related to meme coins like Dogecoin, hold significant sway over the cryptocurrency market, thanks to his dedicated following.
In 2020, Musk was one of several notable Twitter users, such as Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, who experienced a temporary hacking incident. The incident was aimed at promoting a Bitcoin scam.
A Seven spokeswoman said: “Seven is aware that some of its branded YouTube channels are not appearing as they should. Seven is investigating and working with YouTube to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”
During a difficult week, Seven Network encountered a cyber attack while trying to cut costs by implementing job cuts. Recent budget cuts have resulted in the dismissal of a prominent television presenter.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports the recent dismissal of Paul Burt, a highly regarded weather reporter with over ten years of broadcasting experience at both Gold Coast and Brisbane stations.
He is one of the around 150 employees who have reportedly lost their jobs on the troubled network in recent days. Paul Burt gained popularity on Queensland television for his hosting role on the 7Mate show Step Outside with Paul Burt. People widely recognised him for his expertise in fishing and adventure.
He began his television career at Channel 10 and later transitioned to Nine. He arrived at 7, eight years later. Burt gained widespread attention in 2022 when he abruptly halted his live broadcast to swiftly dive into the ocean at Surfer’s Paradise and save a distressed young boy.
This week, there were significant job cuts as part of a broader effort to reduce costs. As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, employees from various divisions, including journalists, sales, and marketing, were all at risk of losing their jobs.
The unexpected shakeup in the network’s senior executive ranks surprised industry observers and highlighted the severity of the television industry’s crisis. Kerry Stokes, the company’s chairman and a prominent billionaire media magnate, made significant changes to the nine-person management team of Seven West Media on Tuesday. This has resulted in a major shakeup.
Kurt Burnette, Melissa Hopkins, and Lewis Martin, three senior executives, have lost their jobs. Tim Burrowes, a prominent industry commentator and publisher of the Unmade newsletter, described the event as a momentous day in the media market.
“Factor in the departure of CEO James Warburton, legal chief Bruce McWilliam and news chief Craig McPherson in April, and the leadership of Australia’s most watched TV network has changed almost entirely in just two months,” Burrowes pointed out.
“Among Australia’s big media companies, that’s unprecedented.”
The company characterised it as an essential component of a significant restructuring, while Burrowes referred to it as a “massacre”.
Justin Lavadia is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum with a diverse writing background spanning various niches and formats. With a wealth of experience, he brings clarity and concise communication to digital content. His expertise lies in crafting engaging content and delivering impactful narratives that resonate with readers.