One of the most contentious and debated topics of the information age has been that of privacy.
While the thought of an all-seeing, all-knowing Big Brother has had computer users shaking in their boots for many years, major technology developments in the past twelve months have brought the issue to a head.
On December 21, Australia faces the introduction of new privacy laws--Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000--that will forever change the way this country collects, manages and utilises personal information. The Internet, unlike any other medium, will bear the brunt of this new legislation and its social, political, moral and financial ramifications.
ZDNet Australia has amassed a comprehensive collection of articles, analysis and opinion dealing with the emotive subject of online privacy and offers it to you as a tool to help you make up your own mind on what promises to be an extremely complicated and divisive issue.
Notable new privacy law or pumpkin?
New privacy legislation is now in force and the Australian Privacy Commissioner claims he stands ready to enforce the new laws despite having no new budget to handle investigations.
Terrorism dims Australian privacy focus
Security concerns following the September 11 terrorist attacks have taken the focus away from Australia's new privacy legislation, according to one expert at a privacy debate in Sydney.
Local privacy awareness increasing
With little over two weeks to go until the introduction of privacy law amendments, companies are much more aware of the requirements, according to federal privacy commissioner Malcolm Crompton.
Countdown to privacy changes
Companies are making final tweaks in preparation for the new privacy legislation, just months after a report revealed that less than 20 percent of businesses were aware of the imminent changes.
ADMA urges privacy best practice
With the introduction of the new Australian privacy legislation less than a month away, the ADMA has launched draft Guidelines for Use of Data in Direct Marketing.
Countdown to online privacy
New online privacy laws are coming into force in less than six weeks, but some local businesses still aren't ready. ZDNet Australia provides a status report.
The privacy debate: The darker side of customer intimacy
You may be spending generously on e-business and customer relationship management systems to get closer to your customers, but can you guarantee their privacy? To a legal certainty? If these questions make you nervous, join the stampede: December 21, the date new national privacy laws kick into effect, is a whole lot closer than you think. David Braue takes a closer look.
Aust Govt agencies fail privacy test
The Australian Government has failed to meet "basic" online privacy requirements, according to an investigation that suggests its own agencies are hindering the push to increase Australian Internet usage.
Businesses unaware privacy laws loom
The deadline to comply with Australia's new privacy legislation reported on previously by ZDNet is just months away, yet a ZDNet survey has found that a whopping 85 percent of businesses aren't even aware of the new laws -- a figure that doesn't surprise the Privacy Commissioner.
Privacy for security's sake
Debate is increasing on the privacy front with the eerie predictions of the infamous -1984" novel becoming more of a reality.
