Mr Keating will speak about the internet and the development of social media - Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites – which have irrevocably changed the media landscape.

He says more and more people, especially young people, are getting their news and information from a “bewildering array” of internet news sites and through social networking sites, which has led to an “information free-for-all”.

“In this new media age, the right to privacy is under challenge. Indeed, there seems to be no general agreement on what privacy actually means. In this environment, various law reform bodies have been struggling to develop laws that would enshrine some sort of right to privacy. In general, the media has resisted any such laws,” he says.

Mr Keating will address questions such as: should we have laws that protect our privacy? What would constitute a breach of privacy? How do we balance the 'free speech and the need for a free media' argument against an individual's right not to be subjected to intrusions on their privacy by journalists, photographers, television crews, bloggers and social networkers?

This will be Mr Keating’s first public lecture at the University of Melbourne.

The lecture is FULLY BOOKED, however media are welcome to attend.

The lecture will be live streamed at www.live.unimelb.edu.au

Who:       
Former PM of Australia Paul Keating
Lecture for the Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne

When:       
Wednesday 4 August at 6.30-7.30pm

Where:   
Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre
Swanston Street, University of Melbourne