Peter A Clarke

Today is Data Privacy Day.  Perhaps a bit paradoxical as it comes just after a spate of spectactular data breaches in the US.  The Privacy Commissioner has issued a press release titled  Australians’ right to privacy strengthened with new privacy laws (found here) which provides:

‘With the introduction of new privacy laws, people’s privacy rights will be enhanced and strengthened in areas such as direct marketing, the disclosure of personal information overseas and requesting access to and correction of personal information held by an organisation,’ Australian Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim said.

From 12 March 2014 new privacy laws mean that Australians can more easily:

• ask an organisation Read the rest of this entry »

Zdnet reports in  FBI issues security warning to US retailers that the US Federal Bureau of Investigations is warning retailers to be aware of malware infecting point of sale systems.  This leads to significant data breaches.

The article provides:

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning US retailers Read the rest of this entry »

The Federal Government’s mooted proposal to have some form of watchdog with the power to issue notices or otherwise require a social media site to take down content that was targeted at and likely to cause harm to children as attracted the concern of Tim Wilson.  In Zdnet’s article Australian government plans rapid content removal for social media Tim Wilson reportedly said there were serious risks Read the rest of this entry »

The Guardian reports in Michaels says it is investigating possible data breach affecting customer cards that Michaels, the biggest arts and crafts retailer, has been subject to a data security attack.

It provides:

Michaels, the biggest US arts and crafts retailer, said on Saturday it was working with federal law enforcement officials to investigate a possible data breach on its systems that process payment cards.

“We are Read the rest of this entry »

The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a press release about six private investigators who were prosecuted and fined for obtaining personal information from organisations without authority.  The charges were conspiring to breach the Data Protection Act.

The press release (found here) relevantly provides:

Six men who were part of a company that tricked organisations into revealing personal details about customers has today been sentenced for conspiring to breach the Data Protection Act.

Adrian Stanton, 40, ran ICU Investigations Limited in Read the rest of this entry »

Zdnet reports in Parents want transparency from schools concerning use of student data about a survey where it is clear that parents want reform to the use of their children’s data by schools.

It provides:

Slate in  This Smartphone Is Making Privacy a Priority reports on a new smartphone, Blackphone which is specifically designed to give the user’s privacy priority.

It provides:

The Australian in Industry in dark on privacy law (found here behind the paywall) reported on 21 January 2014 on the poor state of preparedness of many organisations in complying with the amendments to the Privacy Act when they come into force on 12 March 2014.

The article provides:

HALF of all organisations are not even aware of amendments to the Privacy Act that could see fines of about $1.7 million imposed when it comes into effect next month.

IT vendors and privacy advocates Read the rest of this entry »

The CR Code registered today will come into effect on 12 March 2014.

It Read the rest of this entry »

The Privacy Commissioner registered the Credit Reporting Code today, 22 January 2014.  The relevant OAIC page is found here. The PDF of the 47 page CR Code (with some scrambling on the first page) is found here.