From the ACCC: Utel Networks Pty Ltd has paid three infringement notices, totalling $19,800, and provided a court enforceable undertaking to the Australian Competition and Conmsumer Commission (ACCC) for misrepresentations made by them to customers through their telemarketing activities. Utel Networks provides a number of telecommunications services, and markets these services through a Phillipines-based subsidiary. […] Read more »
Competition Law & Consumer Law eNews Items
Contact Matthew Nicholls (ph: +61 3 8376 7131) to discuss your requirements.
Vodafone warned by ACMA over advertising
From the ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a formal warning to Vodafone Pty Ltd for a breach of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code (TCP Code). The warning relates to a failure by Vodafone to prominently display its standard charges for a mobile phone offer, as required by clause 4.2.6 of […] Read more »
Attorney General announces mandatory data breach notification laws
From the office of the Australian Attorney General: The Commonwealth Attorney General has announced new laws to be introduced into Parliament requiring businesses and organisations to inform individuals when a data breach involving their personal information has occurred. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus QC made the following remarks: “With businesses and government agencies holding more information […] Read more »
ACMA warns AAPT about privacy
From the ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally warned AAPT Limited (AAPT) regarding its to protect the privacy of its customers’ personal information as required by the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code (TCP Code). The ACMA initiated an investigation into AAPT following media reports that some of AAPT’s customer data had been […] Read more »
OAIC investigating Telstra data breach
From the OAIC: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has opened an investigation into a data breach that resulted in the publication of Telstra customer’s private information online. Australian Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim issued the following statement: “Telstra has briefed our office about this incident and advised that the documents are no longer […] Read more »
FOXTEL makes undertaking to ACCC over free TV offer
FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd has provided the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with a court enforceable undertaking following allegations that FOXTEL breached the Australian Consumer Law with a free television offer. The undertaking stems from representations made by FOXTEL that customers who subscribed to a 12 month plan between 12 February 2012 and 5 […] Read more »
ACCC – Proceedings instituted against ByteCard Pty Limited for unfair contract terms
From the ACCC: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Internet Service Provider ByteCard Pty Limited (ByteCard, better known as Netspeed Internet Communications) alleging that a number of clauses in the ByteCard standard form consumer contracts are unfair contract terms and should be declared void. The alleged […] Read more »
OAIC: Australian Privacy Principles guidance
From the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a pair of guidances comparing the proposed new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) with Australia’s current National Privacy Principles (NPPs) and the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs). The APPs are found in the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act […] Read more »
ACCC Chairman Rod Sims: ACCC well placed to deal with communications revolution
From the ACCC: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims, speaking at the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce in Brisbane, has said that the ACCC is is well placed to deal with the many issues flowing from the continuing communications industry revolution. Mr Sims spoke of the benefits of a combined competition, consumer […] Read more »
ACMA Contemporary community safeguards inquiry
From the ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced the commencement of the ‘Contemporary community safeguards inquiry’. The inquiry will focus on the need for broadcasting standards to remain in line with changing community expectations. The ACMA is seeking to to explore and establish the core principles that should guide the content […] Read more »
ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman: Telco and media reforms continue
From the ACMA: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Chairman Chris Chapman has delivered a speech outlining the current work and priorities of the ACMA at the Communications Day Summit. Among the ACMA initiatives and priorities highlighted were the following: A spectrum plan which portended a $30 smart phone handset and potential economic benefits to […] Read more »
ACCC draft decision on NBN Co Special Access Undertaking
From the ACCC, the DBCDE and the Australian Financial Review: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued its draft decision on the the revised Special Access Undertaking (SAU) lodged by NBN Co. The SAU is to form a key part of the framework to determine the cost and other terms under which NBN […] Read more »
Key EU nations take legal action against Google
From TechNewsWorld: 6 key EU nations have joined forces to take legal action against Google over the privacy protections of its user data. France, Spain, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany have announced that they will take joint legal action against Google over its privacy policies. The action will include investigations, and possible fines. […] Read more »
Groupon warned by ACMA about its email unsubscribe process
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally warned online retailer Groupon Australia Pty Ltd after determining that they had sent daily email newsletters to people without their consent. Consumers complained that the unsubcription service offered by Groupon only ubsubscribed them from one of several Groupon daily newsletters, and that they continued to receive […] Read more »
ACCC – Draft Report on Telstra FAD
From the ACCC: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a draft report today on making a Final Access Determination (FAD) for the declared wholesale ADSL service. This service is used to provide users with broadband internet and other services over Telstra’s copper network. The draft FAD sets out proposed price and non-price […] Read more »