July 27, 2018
Australian consumers value their privacy, but our research finds that they don’t feel they have much choice about what data is being collected, who it is shared with, or how it is used. Over 94% of Australians did not read all of the privacy policies that applied to them in the last 12 months, and 95% supported companies transparently providing them with opt-out capability when it comes to data collection.
Significant benefit and innovation can flow from open data. To deliver sustainable growth of new technologies and industries, it’s crucial that we put consumers in the driver’s seat. Australians are spending more of their lives online. 87% were active internet users in 20171, more than 17 million use social networking sites2, and 84% of Australians are now buying products online. Big Data is big business. In 2018 alone, revenue from the Big Data software market was estimated at $42 billion.
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation now provides EU consumers with new protections including greater transparency and control of data being collected about them by companies. In Australia, consultation is currently underway to establish a Consumer Data Right, an optional right for consumers to gain access to portability of their data. While a step in the right direction, it currently falls short of economywide protections for Australian consumers whose data is being collected, shared and used on a daily basis. Ensuring that we strike the right balance is crucial. For consumers to benefit, policy settings need to drive innovation, enhance competition, protect human rights and the right to privacy and, ultimately, enable genuine consumer choice.
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Faulty cars are far too common and disrupt too many lives. This report delves deep into the repercussions of faulty cars on individuals' lives, examines the legal pathways available for those seeking remedies and explores the experience of First Nations people.
March 16, 2023
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. It is time to consider reforms that hold businesses accountable for how they collect, share and use consumer data. It is time to give regulators the power to pause and assess data practices that are causing or likely to cause consumer harm.
