Privacy Commissioner commences an investigation into Ashley Madison data breach
August 25, 2015
The Privacy Commissioner announces an investigation into the Ashley Madison data breach.
The statement Read the rest of this entry »
Timothy Pilgrim reappointed as Australian Privacy Commissioner
August 21, 2015
The Attorney General, George Brandis, today announced the reappointment of Timothy Pilgrim as Australian Privacy Commissioner. The appointment is for 12 months from 19 October 2015. The timing is Read the rest of this entry »
Data breach penalty regime supported by Australian IT professionals according a survey
August 20, 2015
Security Asia reports on a Websense survey of Australian IT professionals in Data breach penalties gain overwhelming support from Australian IT: survey. It is not counter intuitive Read the rest of this entry »
Information Commissioner Office fines Money Shop for a privacy breach
August 18, 2015
Proper enforcement by privacy regulators is critically important to establishing a culture of privacy compliance. There are also strong public policy reasons to ensure that the privacy laws are not ignored. The Federal Trade Commission in the United States has been quite assertive in using the limited powers it has to ensure that businesses do not mislead on privacy protections used or privacy enhancing products that are sold. The UK Information Commissioner’s office has also been quite rigorous in taking action for privacy breaches. Unfortunately the Australian Privacy Commissioner has adopted an entirely different approach. He has been restrained to the point of timid. Perhaps worse When action has been taken the outcome has been anaemic.
The ICO has fined the Money Shop the swinging sum of £180,000 for loss of data due to Read the rest of this entry »
Another breach of privacy by telco
August 4, 2015
There are few constants in the privacy sphere in Australia. One is a privacy breach by a telco. When it comes to privacy breaches telcos are frequent fliers. Itnews reports in Sensis publishes hundreds of silent numbers online on residential customers having their unlisted numbers published in the White pages online. Last October the Privacy Commissioner Read the rest of this entry »
UK Supreme Court grants leave to appeal in Google Inc v Vidal-Hall and others
August 3, 2015
The UK Supreme Court has granted Google leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in Google v Vidall Hall & ors. The Court of Appeal decision is a significant advance in the development of the privacy related actions, from Read the rest of this entry »
Privacy Commissioner issues paper regarding Telecommunications obligations regarding metadata
The Privacy Commissioner in its Privacy Business Resource 11: Telecommunications service providers’ obligations arising under the Privacy Act 1988 as a result of Part 5-1A of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 relating specifically to data retention.
It Read the rest of this entry »
Privacy Commissioner relases Business Resource for small business
July 22, 2015
The Privacy Commissioner has released the Business Resource 10, regarding compliance by small business with the Privacy Act.
It is found here. A useful resource Read the rest of this entry »
Reinhart reportedly bringing privacy related action against Channel Nine
July 21, 2015
The Australian Financial Review in Gina Rinehart mounts privacy claim against Channel Nine that Ms Rinehart is seeking to bring a privacy related action against Read the rest of this entry »
Data breaches in the health system
July 7, 2015
Notwithstanding the critical importance of privacy in the health there remains chronic problems with maintaining proper data security in the sector. The BBC story East Sussex NHS Trust apologies over data breach which reports that in the UK a USB stick containing personal information collected by the National Health Service which was found by a member of the public. Meanwhile in New Zealand, according to Swift apology after mental health privacy breach, a mental health support group revealed the email addresses of hundreds of people with anxiety disorders. Poor data management is at Read the rest of this entry »