Privacy

House-sitting platforms are connecting sitters and home owners for a fee. But who's responsible when things go wrong?

Information we share online can be used to spy on us, influence the advertising we see, train algorithms, and more. To avoid this some messaging apps use encryption allowing people to communicate privately.

Scammers are using loyalty point programs as the latest way to try to trick you. To keep you safe, here are the common signs to watch out for. 

City of Moreton Bay council says an investigation has been launched into how names, addresses, phone numbers and complaint details were accidentally published online.

The Australian Information Commissioner found TICA's controversial "virtual manager" service, which allows real estate agents to track tenants indefinitely, was subject to the same restrictions as the company's formal tenancy blacklist.

If you're among the majority of Australians with Facebook or Instagram accounts, your social activity on those platforms might be training Meta's artificial intelligence (AI) tools — and if you live in Australia, you can't say no.

The Australian Information Commissioner is suing Medibank over a 2022 hack that leaked sensitive data about millions of Australians.

Around 2 million Australians may be caught up in the Ticketmaster hack. Here's what you should be looking out for and how to protect yourself from hackers and scammers.

The details of millions of Optus customers were exposed when an offshore actor hacked its company database two years ago.

Many Australian consumers are unaware of the extent of personal data being collected about them on a day-to-day basis, says a new report. 

Viona is a cashback app user who has earned hundreds of dollars in cashback, but consumer advocacy group CHOICE is warning of privacy and personal data collection concerns. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs is facing a potential class action after revelations that medical information about veterans was distributed to a South Australian university program without the veterans' consent.

As experts push to strengthen Australia's privacy laws, many car makers are gathering data and potentially selling it to third parties.

Months after settling a $5 billion privacy lawsuit, Google's Chrome web browser is set to warn users that private browsing does not prevent them from being tracked.

The use of third-party platforms by real estate agents to manage rental applications is already firmly embedded in Australia's rental market, but some are concerned regulation has fallen behind.

Employers monitoring their workers' computer keystrokes might seem intrusive, but it's just one of the many ways workplace surveillance is being carried out today. 

A hacker who stole $1.2 million from a family business already had confidential information before the theft occurred. Those in the field say cybercrime is rapidly evolving, and small businesses are facing increasing and targeted threats.

The government has agreed to proposals that would allow Australians to opt out of targeted advertising, require search engines to "de-index" certain information about them, and draw small businesses into Australia's privacy scheme.

Dr Katharine Kemp, University of NSW says the government are making important steps towards bringing Australian privacy laws in line with the rest of the world. She outlines the scope of the legislation for consumers, children and businesses.

Between June and August of 2017, Tasmania Police secretly recorded dozens of conversations that should have been confidential.

The number of meetings potentially compromised by the covert police surveillance of a room at Tasmania's Risdon Prison could number in the hundreds, it has been revealed — with the matter described as a "massive breach of privacy" which demands a "comprehensive review".

A new survey by the Privacy Commissioner has found about one in two Australians suffered a data breach last year, and few feel in control of their privacy.

Fresh criticism has surfaced about major Australian stadiums' use of facial recognition for ticket-holders to some of the country's biggest events.

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE says facial recognition technology carries privacy and human rights risks, amid a report of its use in major sport venues in Australia.

Analysis of period tracker apps has found they collect data about consumers' sex lives, general health, and menstrual cycles, with many of them able to be used by children as young as 13.