CMOpinion: The Privacy Act review – are we there yet?
In her regular Mumbrella column, Bill Identity CMO Diana Di Cecco decodes the Privacy Act Discussion Paper, summarises the highlights and discusses what it could mean for marketers.
As you’re probably aware, Australia’s most important privacy framework, The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (The Act), is currently under review. The evaluation was announced in December 2019 and commenced in October 2020 (speedy hey?), in response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platforms Inquiry.
Earlier this year, I described the Australian Government’s speed with regard to privacy legislation reform as “moving at a glacial pace.” And here we are nearing the end of 2021 only inches further along than we were one year ago – need I say more?
I was provided with some ‘direct feedback’ that my sentiment on this topic was a little harsh. Granted, there is a metronomic process of issues papers, discussion papers and bill drafts that need to be followed but I stand by my commentary simply because privacy is one of the most important factors affecting the legal landscape and we are lagging. It’s not good (or fast) enough for the marketing industry.
Privacy protections have been a contentious topic for a number of years, exacerbated by digitisation and the Internet of Things. It is disappointing that having been a first mover in launching a well-rounded data privacy regime in 2012, we now trail most of our global peers. Over the past few years, there have been various schemes, reports and inquiries which have started to shape the future of privacy legislation. Here’s a timeline to prompt the memory bank.
