Site Changes
- Note 1: Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will come into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not for profits need to start preparing for these changes. For more information go to our privacy law reform page at www.oaic.gov.au
- Note 2: From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date. For new privacy content visit the www.oaic.gov.au website.
Topics
- Access and correction
- Collection
- Compliance
- Corporate information
- Credit and finance
- Data accuracy
- Data security / breach
Internet: Brochures (1) | Case Notes (2) | Guidelines (2) | Information Sheets (1) | Media Releases (15) | Speeches (13) | Submissions (6)
Brochures
About the Office
private i - your ultimate privacy survival guide
pdf (2.01 MB)
Whether you never think about privacy or always do, this publication is for you. It’ll tell you what some of the privacy issues are that you may face, some of the pitfalls to avoid, and who to turn to for help if your privacy has been affected.
Case Notes
2005
R v Internet Service Provider [2005] PrivCmrA 17
pdf (22.59 KB)
Improper disclosure of personal information and failure to take reasonable steps to protect personal information.
2004
N v Internet Service Provider [2004] PrivCmrA 10
pdf (18.53 KB)
Disclosure of personal information as a result of failure to provide adequate security over personal information / declined to investigate on the basis that complainant did not complain to the respondent before making the complaint to the Commissioner.
Guidelines
Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government Websites
March 2003 The purpose of these Guidelines is to assist Federal and ACT government agencies to adopt best privacy practice and comply with the Privacy Act in respect to their websites. If personal information may be transmitted, published, solicited and collected via the Internet, agencies need to consider the relevant privacy implications whe...
Guidelines on Workplace E-mail, Web Browsing and Privacy
Introduction Background The Technical Realities of E-mail Use and Privacy Jurisdiction and Legal Issues Developing a Policy Guidelines Conclusion Introduction The use of the Internet by governments and organisations has raised concerns about the privacy of staff e-mail and web browsing activities. Despit...
Information Sheets
Private Sector
Information Sheet (Private Sector) 26 - 2008: Interaction between the Privacy Act and the Spam Act
pdf (350.57 KB)
Key Messages Introduction The Spam Act prohibits sending unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam). The Acts coverage includes emails, instant messaging, SMS and MMS (text and image-based mobile phone messaging) of a commercial nature. The Spam Act applies to any commercial electronic message with an Aust...
Media Releases
2010
Privacy Commissioner welcomes National Cyber Security Awareness Week
7 June 10 The Australian Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis today welcomed National Cyber Security Awareness Week as an opportunity to partner with the Australian Government in promoting smart online practices.
2009
Media Release: International Privacy Commissioners urge young people: Think before you upload!
06 May 2009 The Privacy Commissioners of the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) today launched a video reminding young people to protect their privacy online. The key message of the video is: ''Think before you upload. Once its out there, its everywhere!. "We may think that the details, p...
2008
Media Release: Spam and privacy - new guidance issued
26 August 2008 The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, today released new guidanceto assist organisations who seek to engage in electronic marketing. "The Privacy and Spam Acts provide Australians with protections against receiving unsolicited emails, and it is in business best interests...
Media Release: Better e-security is key to enhanced privacy
6 June 2008 Marking the beginning of National E-security Awareness Week, 6-13 June 2008, the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has urged both organisations and the public to take extra care to safeguard their information on computer systems: "Many of the privacy breaches that my Office is aware of occurred not only because of...
2007
Media Release: Protect your privacy on social networking sites, says Privacy Commissioner
18 December 2007 Recognising growing community concerns about the potential privacy risks associated with social networking websites, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has issued advice to Australians - especially teenagers - about protecting their personal information on these sites. "Many people are all too readily posting p...
Media Release: National privacy survey: ID theft, ID scanning and online privacy concerns are on the rise
28 August 2007 A national survey commissioned by the Office of the Australian Privacy Commissioner has found that technological developments have increased Australians privacy concerns. Among the findings are: ID THEFT: 9% of Australians claim to have been victims of ID theft and 60% are concerned about becoming a victim. 45%...
2004
Media Release: Ticketmaster7 privacy errors highlight industry wide problem
12/2/04 "I am disappointed that businesses, covered by the Privacy Act for over 2 years, are still making fundamental errors," said Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton. "Some businesses have continued to run web sites that allow anybody to view other customers personal information by changing numbers in the URL (web site...
2003
Announcements: Privacy and the NOIE Spam Report
16 April 2003 Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, has welcomed the release of the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) Final report of the NOIE review of the spam problem and how it can be countered. "The NOIE Report proposes some good solutions that will help reduce the spam problem," Mr Crompton said. "Spam poses a...
2002
Media Release: The Source web site privacy investigation concluded
29 November 2002 The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has concluded an investigation into The Source web site finding that the Privacy Act was breached by the Department of Family and Community Services, which manages the site. The breaches have now been adequately addressed by the Department and measures are now in place to prevent simi...
Announcement: Formal Investigation into Federal Government Web Site Commenced
12 June 2002 "We are aware of allegations that a federal government web site*, designed for young people, may have spammed users as part of two competitions it was running. I have commenced a formal investigation into the matter to determine if the Privacy Act has been breached," said Timothy Pilgrim, Deputy Federal Privacy Commissioner....
2001
Media Release: Sickie web site not cleared by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
30/8/2001 "Reports, earlier today, that my Office has cleared the privacy practices of Wayne and Dianas Employment Web Site are incorrect. My Office has not cleared the web site," said Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton. "Changes to the federal Privacy Act that extends its coverage to private sector organisations come into force on 21 Dec...
2000
Media Release: Federal Privacy Commissioner's Guidelines on Workplace E-mail, Web Browsing
30 March 2000 Federal Privacy Commissioners Guidelines on Workplace E-mail, Web Browsing and Privacy "No surprises is the key to a successful e-mail and web browsing policy in the workplace," said Malcolm Crompton, Federal Privacy Commissioner, during the launch of his Offices Guidelines on Workplace E-mail, Web Browsing and Privacy, by the Federal...
Media Release: Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton comments on DoubleClick
11/2/2000 "Internet users are very concerned about their activities on the net being tracked." "A Roy Morgan survey, published in August 99, found that "The majority of Australians (56 percent) are worried about invasion of privacy issues created by new information technologies..." "To its credit, DoubleClick doe...
1999
Media Release: Privacy Commissioner welcomes attention to privacy issues in Health Online
4/11/1999 Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, today welcomed the recognition of the importance of personal privacy in proposals for a national plan of action for information management in the health sector. "All of us have a vested interest in better management of our health information," said Commissioner Crompton. "It is wid...
Media Release: Federal Privacy Commissioner issues Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government World Wide Websites
13/5/1999 Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, today released Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government World Wide Websites. Mr Crompton said "the Guidelines will help Government agency websites achieve worlds best practice in relation to on-line privacy protection." "The Guidelines are designed to help Federal and ACT G...
Speeches
2005
The impact of computers on privacy: a virtual story.
pdf (52.33 KB)
A speech delivered by Siobhan Jenner for the Striking a balance: Computer Audit, Control and Security 2005 Conference, at the Burswood Convention Centre, Perth, Western Australia, 23-26 October 2005.
2003
Privacy: Technology, Law and the Marketplace
pdf (1.34 MB)
Speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the 3rd IBM Privacy Technology Summit hosted by IBM Tivoli, Sydney, 8 September 2003.
2002
Privacy and Public Registers
pdf (1.72 MB)
a speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the 30th Australasian Registrars Conference, Canberra, 15 November 2002.
Marketing through new media channels
pdf (1.28 MB)
a speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA), Sydney,ÿ8 November 2002.
2001
The Internet Stripped Naked!
pdf (725.53 KB)
a speech delivered by Malcolm Crompton, Privacy Commissioner to the Connections Internet Conference 2001 organised by the Western Australian Internet Association, Perth, 16 October 2001
Privacy in the Information Age-New and Old privacy law in Australia - 15th August 2001
pdf (680.81 KB)
a speech delivered by Malcolm Crompton, Privacy Commissioner to a lunch hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Melbourne, 15 August 2001
Privacy in the Information Age-New and Old privacy law in Australia - 8th August 2001
pdf (553.38 KB)
a speech delivered by Malcolm Crompton, Privacy Commissioner to a lunch hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Brisbane, 8 August 2001
Preserving Privacy in a Rapidly Changing Environment
pdf (90.45 KB)
a speech delivered by Malcolm Crompton,ÿPrivacy Commissioner, to the Fourth National Outlook Symposium on Crime in Australia, New Crimes or New Responses convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology held in Canberra 21 June 2001
2000
Building Trust in the Online Environment
pdf (464.71 KB)
Business-to-Consumer Dispute Resolution, a Conference jointly organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCPIL) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), The Hague, 11-12 December 2000
The value of privacy to e-commerce
pdf (960.05 KB)
Leukaemia Foundation Executive Breakfast, 22 August 2000
The Importance of Privacy to e-commerce: AIIA Seminar, 27 July 2000
pdf (514.35 KB)
AIIA Seminar, 27 July 2000
1999
The Privacy Bill: Implications for the private sector in the evolving information economy
pdf (686.71 KB)
Australian Information Industry Association, 5 November 1999
Privacy Issues in an e-world
pdf (576.86 KB)
Macquarie Graduate School of Management, 24 September 1999
Submissions
2010
The adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online; Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts (August 2010)
pdf (423.5 KB)
Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts on the adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online (August 2010)
Inquiry into Cyber Safety Issues Affecting Children and Young People; Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Cyber Safety (July 2010)
pdf (473.85 KB)
Submission to the Australian Parliament's Joint Select Committee on Cyber Safety inquiry into Cyber Safety Issues Affecting Children and Young People (July 2010)
2009
Draft report: Engage Getting on with Government 2.0; Submission to the Government 2.0 Taskforce (December 2009)
pdf (263.66 KB)
Submission on published draft report Engage: Getting on with Government 2.0. to the Government 2.0 Taskforce
Digital Economy Future Directions: Consultation Paper; Submission to Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (February 2009)
pdf (297.8 KB)
February 2009 Key Recommendations 1. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (the Office) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the development of the Digital Economy Future Directions Paper (the Future Directions Paper) by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (the Department). 2. It is...
2000
Submission: E-Privacy (July 2000)
pdf (47.94 KB)



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