Privacy complaints grew 7.7% in FY16

Privacy complaints to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OAIC) increased by 7.69% during the 2015–16 financial year to 2128, according to the OAIC annual report.

Privacy inquiries meanwhile grew 18% to 19,092, in a development which Information Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim said reflects growing public interest in privacy.

“Australians continue to experience an expansion of the scope and diversity of how their personal information is being collected and used by government agencies and businesses. This has increased public interest in privacy,” he said.

The OAIC also received 2483 freedom of information (FOI) inquiries for access to government data, and completed 510 Information Commissioner reviews of government decisions not to release information through FOI. This compares to 482 applications for review in 2014–15.

In total the government received 37,996 FOI requests and acted on 37,107 of them. Of these, 55.9% were granted in full and 34.1% in part, while the remaining 10% were refused.

“This past year also saw a significant shift in the public data landscape, with the Australian Government actively pursuing the innovation potential of data,” Pilgrim said.

“Underpinning this commitment is the ability for Australians to access the national resource that is government held information through FOI.”

The office also completed 21 privacy assessments into the privacy conduct of 67 businesses and agencies, and provided 230 pieces of privacy advice.

The OAIC has issued its key results for the financial year — based on its annual reports and corporate plans for the past three years — in a new interactive performance portal on its website.

Image courtesy of g4ll4is under CC

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