Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

Get ready for Privacy Act changes: Privacy Commissioner

Businesses, government agencies should review polices before March 2014, says Timothy Pilgrim.

With new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) coming into law in March 2014, Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim says now is the time for organisations to start preparing by conducting a review of privacy policies.

The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 was passed in Parliament on 29 November 2012. It updates the Privacy Act 1988 and includes a number of reforms including the introduction of the APPs and changes to how personal information is handled, including when it can be used for direct marketing and sent overseas.

Mixed reaction to improved privacy protection

Privacy Act reforms - the implications for the digital environment

Privacy bill given the go-ahead

Pilgrim has recommended that businesses and government agencies should review information collection notices, outsourcing arrangements and direct marketing practices including the availability of `opt out’ options.

“Over the coming months, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner [OAIC] will produce detailed guidance to assist businesses and agencies understand the impact of the reforms and make the necessary changes to their personal information handling practices,” he said in a statement.

Pilgrim added that the OAIC will conduct talks with industry bodies and consumer groups about some of the guidance documents.

Data privacy day

In addition, the OAIC will be celebrating Data Privacy Day on 28 January 2013. The internationally observed day is an effort to empower people to protect their privacy, control their digital footprint and escalate the protection of privacy/ data as everyone’s priority.

"In the age of big data, social media and cloud computing it is increasingly important that people think about the concept of privacy and what it means to them,” Pilgrim said.

“I am concerned that people aren’t considering the potential risks of disclosing too much personal information, particularly when engaging online.”

He added that organisations should also be vigilant about privacy, in particular, the protection of personal information entrusted to them by customers.

Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia

Recommended

  1. Project management methodologies

  2. BYOD and ITSM: What you need to know

  3. From CMO to CEO: Anametrix’s Pelin Thorogood

    CMO

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: Bill
References show all
Comments are now closed.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Timothy Pilgrim, Privacy Act 1988, security, Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012, privacy, OAIC
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Mobility Apps: What every developer should know
    Learn how others have delivered industry-leading, multi-platform management and security solutions. In this whitepaper, we look how app developers can develop, deploy and manage apps that enterprises can rely on today and into the future. Click to download!
    Learn more »
  • Moving to a Private Cloud? Infrastructure Really Matters!
    The Cloud isn’t about locality. It is about quality of service delivery, cost, and whether the services consumed satisfy our objectives. For the enterprise, you need to select the right QoS to mitigate the inherent risks or you face the problem of losing data and the ability to execute operationally. Read on.
    Learn more »
  • Building Maturity and Experience in Successful Virtualisation Strategies
    Current trends in the adaption and deployment of virtualisation suggest that as an organisation gains experience, each implementation requires a different technique. A stratified approach to a company’s long-term virtualisation and cloud computing strategy allows the right skills set to be built alongside the resolution of each scale and complexity issue presented. Read more to understanding where you are and how you can compare for the future.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments