Personal data can travel through numerous transactions, media and organisations — but it’s always personal — so handle it with care at every step.
Personal data can travel through numerous transactions, media and organisations — but it’s always personal — so handle it with care at every step.
This Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) we explore privacy through the theme Trust and Transparency. This speaks to the consumer and community trust that flows to organisations who handle personal information transparently, and with care, throughout the information life cycle.
Privacy is rarely about secrecy, but is about transparency, security, and choice. It’s about organisations being up-front about their personal information handling practices so that individuals can make informed choices about how they share their information. And it’s about respecting customer trust by maintaining strong security and information handling practices throughout the life cycle of personal data.
This builds public and customer confidence, as it shows that privacy rights are being respected and protected. And that is essential to the both public and private sector organisations alike.
This PAW we will get a timely update on how Australian community and consumer trust in privacy is travelling, when we release the latest report in the longest-running national privacy survey, the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey (ACAPS).
For businesses and agencies, this will update you on the community’s privacy expectations, including around transparency. For individuals, the results should make you think about how you manage your own privacy and personal information.
Our privacy is valuable. It’s part of who we are, and it’s vital to our freedom of choice and freedom of expression.
So this PAW, please look at our website, ask questions about privacy, and find out how you can handle your personal information with care. And if you’re a business, please consult our resources to see how you can ensure that information you handle is cared for in each and every transaction.
As the regulator of Australia’s Privacy Act 1988, our office is able to help you answer your privacy questions. Visit our website for a range of resources, or call our enquiries line if you want to discuss a privacy complaint.
Timothy Pilgrim
Australian Information and
Privacy Commissioner
Australians are concerned about their online privacy — but many are not making the most of the options available to protect themselves.
69% of us are more concerned about our online privacy than they were five years ago, but 65% do not read privacy policies.
Half of us do not regularly adjust our privacy settings on social media, or clear our browsing history.
Australians think the biggest risks to privacy today are:
79% of us are uncomfortable with businesses sharing personal information with other organisations, and 93% are concerned about organisations sending personal information overseas.
Privacy concerns have resulted in the majority of Australians (58%) deciding not to deal with a business.
The OAIC has launched our new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) eLearning program as part of PAW 2017.
If you are initiating a new project or developing a new policy, our PIA eLearning program will help you get privacy right from the start.
The PIA eLearning course:
On completing the PIA eLearning, you will be able to:
The PIA eLearning program is free and available for all to access, use and share.
The PAW campaign website has been relaunched! This site will hold all the dates, information and resources you need for the week, including training resources, videos, and partner logos.
With privacy attracting a record level of attention from Australian consumers and communities, Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, has today previewed key events of this year’s Privacy Awareness Week (15 to 19 May 2017).
‘Australians are more conscious of personal data issues than ever before, and the numbers tell the story,’ said Commissioner Pilgrim. ‘Our statistics show a 20 per cent increase in privacy complaints made to my office so far this financial year. This highlights just how Australian expectations of privacy are maturing each year.’
Australians are concerned about online privacy, but are not using options already available to protect themselves. That’s the key finding from a national survey released today by the Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner — who says both businesses and consumers “have work to do”.
The 2017 Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey, released for Privacy Awareness Week reveals that 69 per cent of Australians say they feel more concerned about their online privacy than they did five years ago, and 83 per cent believe privacy risks are greater online than offline. However, the survey also shows that Australians do not use existing privacy tools to protect themselves online as well as they could.
The OAIC has launched our new Privacy Impact Assessment eLearning program.
Tne course is free and available for all to access, use and share.
When: 11.00am to 12.00pm, Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Where: Heritage Ballroom, The Westin Sydney, 1 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW
Join the Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, as he identifies the latest trends, challenges and consumer concerns highlighted in the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey 2017. Market and social research organisation, Wallis, will provide a deep-dive analysis of the survey results.
When: 7.30am to 10.00am, Wednesday 17 May
Where: MinterEllison, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Assistant Commissioner, Dispute Resolution, will present at the breakfast.
Understanding the human side of data breaches – navigating and minimizing harm from a victim’s perspective. You will learn, not only what to do when facing an incident as an affected individual, but how you, as a privacy leader, can use these lessons to help your organisation better manage and respond to the risks to individuals from these incidents.
When: 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Thursday, 18 May 2017
Where: Community Hall, Juanita Nielsen Community Centre, Corner Nicholson Street and Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo NSW
The Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, will have an open discussion with the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, about digital privacy for teenagers. The Commissioners will discuss how parents, carers and social media organisations can assist teens and young people in understanding their privacy while growing up in the digital age. The panel will cover the topic from a privacy rights and mental health perspectives.
When: Friday 19 May 2017
Where: Hyatt Hotel, 120 Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla, Canberra
The Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner will provide the keynote address at the forum.
The forum will provide an overview of the current state of play under Commonwealth FOI and privacy laws, focusing on recent and emerging themes relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, as well as to provide contextual discussion on the interplay between FOI and privacy laws, other Commonwealth laws and meeting legal and policy objectives.
Videos not included
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Print-ready poster for businesses
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Privacy tips for young people
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Duration: 2:10
