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Privacy laws strengthened just weeks after data breached revealed Privacy laws strengthened just weeks after data breached revealed
(6 months later)
Sweeping changes to privacy law that will drastically change the way personal information is held by Australian businesses and government agencies began on Wednesday.Sweeping changes to privacy law that will drastically change the way personal information is held by Australian businesses and government agencies began on Wednesday.
The laws create “Australian privacy principles” that will force businesses and government agencies to take greater care when handling personal information and sending material overseas. They must also notify Australians when their data is being collected.The laws create “Australian privacy principles” that will force businesses and government agencies to take greater care when handling personal information and sending material overseas. They must also notify Australians when their data is being collected.
The privacy commissioner will have greater powers to investigate privacy breaches, including seeking civil penalties for serious failures and conducting privacy performance assessments.The privacy commissioner will have greater powers to investigate privacy breaches, including seeking civil penalties for serious failures and conducting privacy performance assessments.
“These are the most significant changes to privacy laws in over 25 years and affect a large section of the community,” the privacy commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, said.“These are the most significant changes to privacy laws in over 25 years and affect a large section of the community,” the privacy commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, said.
“The world has changed remarkably since the late 1980s when the Privacy Act was first introduced, and so the changes were required to bring our laws up to date with contemporary information handling practices, including global data flows.”“The world has changed remarkably since the late 1980s when the Privacy Act was first introduced, and so the changes were required to bring our laws up to date with contemporary information handling practices, including global data flows.”
The commissioner’s office has been publishing guidelines and explanations of the new laws for the past few months.The commissioner’s office has been publishing guidelines and explanations of the new laws for the past few months.
The changes come into force just weeks after one of the most serious privacy breaches in Australia’s history. Guardian Australia revealed in February that the immigration department had inadvertently published on its website the personal details of almost 10,000 people in detention. The privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into the data breach. The changes come into force just weeks after one of the most serious privacy breaches in Australia’s history. Guardian Australia revealed in February that the immigration department had inadvertently published on its website the personal details of almost 10,000 people in detention. The privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into the data breach.
On Tuesday the commissioner also released the findings of a previous investigation into a data breach by Telstra that led to the details of 15,000 customers being published online. The company was fined $10,200.On Tuesday the commissioner also released the findings of a previous investigation into a data breach by Telstra that led to the details of 15,000 customers being published online. The company was fined $10,200.
“Being upfront with customers and having good privacy practices in place makes good business sense. It is also consistent with community expectations,” Pilgrim said.“Being upfront with customers and having good privacy practices in place makes good business sense. It is also consistent with community expectations,” Pilgrim said.