The Australian Domain Administration (auDA) has released its Q2 2023-24 Quarterly Report, offering a deep dive into the digital lives of Australians and their readiness for emerging technologies. The report includes two key research pieces: 'Digital Lives of Australians 2023: Readiness for Emerging Technologies' and the inaugural 'Atlas of Australia Online 2023'.

The 'Digital Lives of Australians 2023' research report reveals that while small businesses see efficiency and productivity as benefits of using emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and robotics, they also face significant barriers. These include issues of accuracy, cost, and availability.

The report also suggests that consumers and small businesses would like to see stronger regulatory safeguards around these emerging technologies. This indicates a need for a balance between innovation and regulation, ensuring that as businesses and consumers adopt new technologies, they are also protected from potential risks.

The 'Atlas of Australia Online 2023' research report demonstrates that .au domain name registrations are a leading indicator of innovation and economic activity in Australia. This suggests that as more businesses register .au domains, it's a sign of increased digital activity and innovation within the country.

During the quarter, auDA participated in events both locally and internationally to advocate for the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance. This model promotes the involvement of all stakeholders in the internet community in decision-making processes, ensuring a more democratic and inclusive approach to internet governance.

The quarter ended with more than 4.22 million .au domain names under management by auDA, up 1.5 per cent from December 2022. This growth indicates a continued trend of businesses and individuals turning to the digital space, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to managing domain names, auDA also carried out more than 3,374 compliance audits to support high levels of compliance with the .au Licensing Rules. This is part of auDA's commitment to maintaining the security and stability of the .au domain space. Furthermore, 461 DNS abuse audits were conducted to further reduce already low levels of DNS abuse in .au.

In conclusion, the auDA's Q2 report provides valuable insights into the digital landscape in Australia, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present for small businesses. It also underscores the importance of effective internet governance and the role of .au domain names in Australia's digital economy.