Online privacy



Working paper

In whose interest? Why businesses need to keep consumers safe and treat their data with care

Australia’s privacy laws rely on notification and consent as the primary means of protecting consumers. The onus is on consumers to navigate complex privacy protections in a continuously complex digital economy. The author of this paper argues that it's time to consider reforms that hold...
Policy report

Emerging privacy-enhancing technologies: current regulatory and policy approaches

This report examines privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), which are digital solutions that allow information to be collected, processed, analysed and shared while protecting data confidentiality and privacy. The report reviews recent technological advancements and evaluates the effectiveness of different types of PETs, as well as the...
Report

Privacy Act Review report 2022

This report is the culmination of two years of extensive consultation and review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The review was instigated following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s 2019 Digital Platforms Inquiry final report, which made several privacy recommendations.
Report

Basic Online Safety Expectations: summary of industry responses to the first mandatory transparency notices - December 2022

Online service providers are required to report on how they are implementing the 'Basic Online Safety Expectations' set out by the Australian government. This report shows significant variation in the steps being taken by providers to protect users and the wider Australian public.
Policy report

The future of digital identity in Australia

Digital identity systems provide an opportunity to unlock economic benefits by simplifying and securing user interactions with government and private-sector digital services. However, to realise those benefits, this report makes eight recommendations to balance convenience, privacy and security considerations.
Report

Public exposure and responses to data breaches in Australia: October 2022

This paper reports Australians' views about data trust, cybercrime and data breaches and how these have changed. It is based on data from four waves of the ANUpoll collected over the period October 2019 to October 2022.
Report

Global AI cooperation on the ground: AI research and development on a global scale

This paper recommends that Forum for Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) governments, stakeholders and other likeminded entities prioritise cooperative research and development efforts on deployment of artificial intelligence as a tool for climate change monitoring and management and accelerating development and adoption of privacy enhancing...
Report

Data trust and data privacy: a brake on the data and digital dividend?

Data is increasingly available at scale and many of the fastest growing companies are built on data and data analytics. This paper reports data on Australian’s attitudes to data trust and data privacy and how these have changed since October 2018 using data from the...
Report

Facial recognition technology: towards a model law

This report responds to growing calls for reform around the use of facial recognition technology from leading voices in civil society, the private sector, government and academic experts. It outlines a model law to regulate the development and use of FRT in order to protect...
Discussion paper

Privacy regulation of biometrics in Aotearoa New Zealand: consultation paper

Organisations are increasingly collecting people’s sensitive personal information and analysing it using biometric technology. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is seeking the views of New Zealanders on biometrics and their use in New Zealand in response to this consultation paper.
Guide

Basic Online Safety Expectations: regulatory guidance

This guidance is for members of the general public, industry and other stakeholders who require information about the Basic Online Safety Expectations to increase the transparency and accountability of online service providers, thereby helping to incentivise and improve safety standards.
Report

America's 5G era: balancing big data and privacy

Concurrently with the adoption of 5G technology, the number of automated sensors and devices connected to wireless networks will continue to grow in the next few years. Increasingly, these networks will inform artificial intelligence algorithms, which will then autonomously make decisions and take actions—with human...
Report

Privacy awareness and engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand: insights report May 2022

This report brings together highlights of the biennial survey and the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner's internal insights reporting to provide a fuller picture of what New Zealanders think about in relation to privacy in New Zealand, and how they utilise their privacy rights.
Guide

Big data and national security: a guide for Australian policymakers

Data abundance, digital connectivity and ubiquitous technology are redefining national security and the way governments protect individual rights and freedoms. This analysis examines Australia’s policy options in a world defined by big data.
Report

The use of QR codes to identify COVID-19 contacts and the role of data trust and data privacy

The aim of this paper is to provide an update on attitudes of the general public to data privacy during the COVID-19 period, as well as the factors associated with the use of QR codes and other government apps/web-sites for contact tracing purposes.
Report

Listening to users and other ideas for building trust in digital trade

This paper argues that if trade policy-makers truly want to achieve data free flow in digital trade they must address public trust and user concerns beyond privacy.
Discussion paper

Strengthening Australia’s cyber security regulations and incentives: a call for views

This discussion paper seeks the public's views about how the Australian government can encourage businesses to invest in cyber security, including through possible regulatory changes.
Report

Report on the inquiry into aspects of petitioning security and accessibility

In December 2020, the Standing Committee on Petitions resolved to inquire into and report on aspects of the House of Representatives’ petitioning system relating to security and accessibility. This report outlines the findings from this inquiry.
Report

Unregulated and segmented dark ads on social media: consumer education and regulatory options

This project develops a model for providing accountability for 'dark ads' on Australia’s most popular social media platform, Facebook. By showing what accountability looks like, the research reminds us just how dramatically the online advertising environment has shifted.
Report

I-Spy: the billion dollar business of surveillance advertising to kids

This report explores the legitimate concerns around surveillance advertising and its use of large-scale data collection, profiling, and the sharing of children’s personal information.
Policy report

Unfair trading practices in digital markets: evidence and regulatory gaps

This report examines the reliance Australian consumers have on data-driven technologies and digital marketplaces, and explores how this reliance has evolved since 2018. The report also sets out the key consumer policy implications the research results pose – and what can be done by market...
Policy report

What’s ahead for a cooperative regulatory agenda on artificial intelligence?

The European Union has embarked on putting in place an aggressive regulatory regime for artificial intelligence (AI). In this report, Meredith Broadbent comments and reflects on the future of the transatlantic relationship and technological sovereignty.
Report

Dialogues about data: building trust and unlocking the value of citizens’ health and care data

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing the opportunities and challenges of sharing health and care data to the front of public debate. This report sets out two interlinked challenges to building a data-driven health and care system.
Report

The future of vulnerability: humanity in the digital age

This report explores how data and technology are shaping the future of vulnerability, particularly through new and evolving forms of inequality, intrusion and insecurity.
Report

Exposed and exploited: data protection in the Middle East and North Africa

Across the Middle East and North Africa, data protection legislation is still in its infancy, and it remains a low priority in countries where data protection laws are either very weak or non-existent. In this report, the authors explore data protection legislation in Jordan, Lebanon...