ABC’s delays compulsory online login rollout by nearly six months

The ABC has delayed its controversial decision to introduce mandatory log-ins for its iview streaming service.

The ABC is planning to introduce log-ins for iview content. Picture: AFP

The ABC has delayed its controversial decision to introduce mandatory log-ins for its iview streaming service by nearly six months.

The public broadcaster was originally due to roll out compulsory logins throughout July and August but on Wednesday revealed this would now be pushed back until the end of the year.

The significant delay comes after the ABC’s managing director David Anderson previously said the log-in requirement would be an “immediate inconvenience” for users.

The ABC is also working with the Australian Information Commissioner to ensure the use of viewers’ personal data is handled appropriately.

The new log-in system will allow users to save favourites and receive recommendations when viewing TV programs but the ABC said the decision to delay the mandatory log-in requirement was to give users more time to understand how it works.

“We had initially intended to roll out mandatory log-ins across July and August but have decided to slow things down to ensure our audiences understand the benefits they will receive from creating an ABC account and the ways we manage and protect their personal information,” an ABC spokesman said.

“It is our intention to introduce mandatory log-ins for ABC iview by the end of the year.”

The decision comes after intense scrutiny earlier this year when it was revealed Australians using iview would need to provide an email, postcode, their year of birth and their gender to access iview.

Under gender, users will have a “prefer not to say” option.

Third party services including Google and Facebook might be able to discover an iview account holder’s viewing preferences but the ABC does give users the ability to opt-out if they don’t want this to happen.

Mr Anderson was questioned about the log-in requirement at Senate estimates in May and said it was being introduced to provide “value to the Australian people”.

“Yes, it will be an immediate inconvenience, but the benefits that sit on the other side of this are at least meant to match or be better than the benefits you get with all other streaming services,” he said at the time.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie who returns to cabinet as Regional Communications Minister, said the delay on log-ins was a good result.

“I welcome a commonsense decision by the ABC and look forward to working towards a sensible opt-in model over coming months that’s inclusive of Australians,” she said.

At Senate estimates she urged the ABC to reconsider their decision to make log-ins mandatory

and said there should be an ‘opt-in’ sign-in model.

The ABC confirmed since the end of March more than 1.01 million ABC accounts have been created.

During this time they have received more than 180 complaints about the new process.

The Institute of Public Affairs’ director of communications Evan Mulholland said there should be no mandatory log-ins at all.

“After the misuse of metadata at a federal level, or the misuse covid check-in app data at a state level, Australians should be very sceptical of state entities like the ABC, compelling users to hand over personal information,” he said.

“Users of iview should not have to ‘sign up’ for a service they already pay for in taxes.”