Privacy is a major concern for 70% of Australians while 87% want more control and choice over the collection and use of their personal information, a new study shows.
The Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey (ACAPS) 2020 released today provides a comprehensive view of beliefs and concerns about the protection of personal information.
The research was commissioned by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and tests attitudes on topics such as data practices, privacy reform, children’s privacy and COVID-19.
“Understanding community views on the protection of their personal data is critical when we are trying to solve the biggest health and economic crisis of our time,” Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk said.
“Privacy controls and practices that live up to community expectations will create the trust and confidence that is needed for the public to engage and make data-driven solutions a success.
“Our survey shows data privacy is a significant concern for Australians, particularly as the digital environment and data practices evolve rapidly. The community sees identity theft and fraud, and data breaches and security, as the biggest privacy risks we face today.”
The survey shows that:
- Community concerns about privacy are based on experience: 59% of Australians had a problem with how their data was used over the past year, such as unwanted marketing communications, or information being collected when it was not required
