On June 30, the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner ("OAIC") released the Guide to Privacy Regulatory Action, which
provides guidance on the OAIC's exercise of its new regulatory
powers. Under its new powers, the OAIC may conduct an assessment of
how an entity handles personal information, apply to the court for
a civil penalty order, and investigate acts or practices that may
interfere with the privacy of an individual. The guide describes
how particular interference with privacy may be serious and details
the OAIC's policy in seeking civil penalty orders.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.