In a recently released code of practice the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office states that data anonymisation does not have to provide a 100% guarantee to individuals’ privacy in order for it to be lawful for organisations to disclose the information. The ICO has released a code of conduct regarding anonymisation.

Organisations that anonymise personal data can disclose that information even if there is a “remote” chance that the data can be matched with other information and lead to individuals being identified. Organisations that take action Read the rest of this entry »

The BBC has another report on the rapid take up of drones for civilian purposes in  Unmanned aircraft project leads push to civilian drones.  The story provides:

The “Pandora’s box” of unmanned aircraft in the UK has been opened, according to the Astraea consortium.

Yet many technology and ethics issues Read the rest of this entry »

The ACTU has raised concerns regarding medical treatment of workers.  One issue is the interference with worker’s medical records.

The story, Employers interfering in medical treatment: ACTU provides:

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is holding a summit in Melbourne to tackle what it says is a growing trend for employers to interfere in their workers’ medical treatment.

It says it has had complaints from the postal, construction and manufacturing sectors.

Some employers are insisting workers visit company-approved doctors and hand over their entire medical history.

The ACTU says in some cases, employers accompany workers to medical appointments.

ACTU assistant secretary Michael Borowick says it is an invasion of privacy.

“We’re going to be, in the near future, engaging with the privacy commissioner,” he said.

“It runs across a whole number of areas of law, privacy, Read the rest of this entry »

Privacy and social media, especially Facebook in Kill yourself, club owner tells schoolgirls.  It provides:

VICTORIA’S liquor licensing authority is investigating a nightclub promoter who told several schoolgirls via social media to ”kill yourself” after they asked to have provocative images removed from the venue’s Facebook page.

The young women Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday PM reported on the acquittal of Costas Vaxevanis for breaches of Greek’s privacy laws.

The transcript of the report relevantly provides:

SHANE MCLEOD: A Greek investigative journalist accused of breaching privacy for publishing the names of more than 2,000 of his compatriots with Swiss bank accounts has been acquitted.

The case has highlighted the role of tax evasion as part of the nation’s debt crisis.

The journalist, Costas Vaxevanis, was facing a possible jail term if Read the rest of this entry »

In Investigation Report 2773 ACMA considered a complaint relating to a breach of Clauses 2.3(d) and 5.5 of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011.

FACTS

During the Ray Hadley Morning Show  on 25 November 2011 Ray Hadley announced the complainant’s name and address on air.

ACMA investigated the complaint under Sections 148 and 149 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the licensee’s compliance with clauses 2.3(d) [privacy] Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday’s Law Report on Radio National covered the mooted statutory right of privacy.  It is found here.

The transcript of the program, with my annotations, provides:

In New Twist in Greek Tax Saga the Wall Street Journal reports on a disclosure by a journalist, Costas Vaxevanis, of private financial details of several thousand Greeks with Swiss Bank Accounts and his subsequent arrest.  The story provides:

 ATHENS—Greek authorities arrested a celebrated investigative journalist Sunday after his magazine disclosed the names of several thousand Greeks with Swiss bank accounts, including members of the country’s political and business elite, a development that comes as an embarrassment to the government and will put more pressure on it to crack down on the country’s chronic tax evasion.

The arrest of the publisher of Hot Doc magazine is the latest bizarre twist to a weekslong saga that has gripped the country and concerns over the attempts of the Greek government to track down alleged tax evaders from a list of names French authorities provided to them.

The publisher, Costas Vaxevanis, was later released Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s Sunday Age reports, in Half have HIV status disclosed without giving OK, over half of people with HIV had their status declared without their permission.  The report provides:

JUST over half of people with HIV have had their health status disclosed without their permission, Read the rest of this entry »

Zdnet reports that Stoke-Trent-City Council has been fined heavily for releasing sensitive data in breach of the data protection legislation.  It is found here. The report provides: