From the OAIC: The Australian Information Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, has issued the following statement on the United States ‘PRISM’ surveillance program: Reports on the surveillance of the communications and online activity of citizens by US intelligence agencies have raised a number of questions, including what this means for the privacy of individuals. Privacy is a […] Read more »
Information Security Law & Privacy Law eNews Items
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TIO Complaint Statistics for January to March 2013
From the TIO: The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has released complaints statistics for the first three months of 2013. The TIO’s summary of the statistics is as follows: The TIO received 40,021 new complaints between January and March 2013, an increase of 4.5 per cent when compared to the previous quarter, and a 23.3 per […] Read more »
IACCM publishes 20 critical information security controls
From the IACCM: The International Association for Contract & Commercial Management (IACCM) has published a useful checklist for businesses seeking a guide to information security controls. Based on the SANS Institute’s ‘Top 20 Critical Controls’ document, the guidance is useful for businesses to prioritise and fund information security initiatives. The top 20 tips are Inventory […] 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 »
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 »
California introduces ‘right to know’ data access bill
From ZDNet: California Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal has introduced a bill that may force companies operating in the state to follow EU-style data and privacy rules. The Bill follows intensive lobbying by two major US privacy groups, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Northern Californian branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The […] 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 »
UK Information Commissioners Office issues BYOD (‘bring your own device’) guidance
From the ‘Law in the Cloud’ Blog: The UK’s Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has issued a document providing guidance for businesses to remain compliant with data protection laws where they allow their employees to use their personal computing devices for work. ‘Bring your own device’ or BYOD provides a number of benefits to businesses in […] Read more »
What Australian businesses need to know about cloud compliance
From ZDNet: Australia often draws up regulation based on tried and tested laws from around the world. But there are times when the country pushes for bold new legislation that may be out-of-step with our technology-centric modern society. Prime examples of these include changes to its Privacy Act, which have taken four years to reach […] Read more »
TCP Code Requirements Effective 1 March
From the Communications Alliance Ltd: The new Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code requires all Australian service providers to give customers a standardised format “Critical Information Summary” (CIS) outlining everything needed to make an informed purchase, and/or to readily compare offers from different providers. In addition, new billing requirements also taking effect on 1 March mean […] Read more »
Closer ties across the Tasman as ACCC and NZCC sign cooperation agreement
From the ACCC: A cooperation agreement was signed today allowing the New Zealand Commerce Commission to share compulsorily acquired information and provide investigative assistance to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The cooperation arrangement is required under NZ law before the NZCC can consider whether compulsorily acquired information should be shared with another international agency. […] Read more »
OAIC report: Open public sector information: from principles to practice
From the OAIC: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has launched a new report that examines how Australian Government agencies manage public sector information. The report, entitled Open public sector information: from principles to practice discusses the challenges and practical obstacles that agencies face in embracing an open data, proactive disclosure approach. The […] Read more »