Reforming the Privacy Act for the modern era
Following the review of the Privacy Act, key reforms have been proposed to bring the Act into the digital age and minimise human rights risks.
By Lorraine Finlay, Patrick Hooton and Wendy Lam - 7 min read
Data, metadata & personal information: landmark Federal Court ruling
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) places legal obligations on businesses and government agencies. These obligations are triggered when data meets the definition of ‘personal information’….
By Anna Johnston - 7 min read
Cyber security and the legal profession
Law firms are desirable targets for cyber attacks and have a lot to lose from a successful data raid. By THOMAS KALDOR.
By Thomas Kaldor - 6 min read
Health records privacy: contemporary issues, complaints and claims
The ‘big data revolution’ in healthcare has increased the demand for access to identifying health information without consent. By ALISON CHOY FLANNIGAN.
By Alison Choy Flannigan - 6 min read
When is metadata personal information? The Federal Privacy Commissioner decides
In his most recent determination made under section 52 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Commissioner has found that customer metadata held by Telstra…
By Caren Whip - 6 min read
National security reforms stage three: metadata (part three)
The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014 (Cth) would establish a mandatory data retention regime requiring communications service providers to retain metadata…
By Keiran Hardy and Professor George Williams - 6 min read
Tweets, texts, forged emails and changing web pages: the admissibility of electronic evidence (part one)
There is rarely a civil case in which an email, text, Facebook entry or webpage snapshot doesn’t feature, yet electronic evidence is often tendered without…
By Julie Soars and Carmel Lee - 6 min read
National security reforms stage two: foreign fighters (part two)
Three controversial counter-terrorism powers – control orders, preventative detention orders, and ASIO’s questioning and detention warrant powers – were due to expire under sunset clauses…
By Keiran Hardy and Professor George Williams - 6 min read
National security reforms stage one: intelligence gathering and secrecy (part one)
The National Security Legislation Amendment Act (No 1) 2014 (Cth) allows ASIO officers operating under a single ‘computer access warrant’ to access data held on multiple computers…
By Professor George Williams and Keiran Hardy - 6 min read