INFORMATION PRIVACY PLAN

Information Privacy Plan



Information Privacy Plan

Question 1

The Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) are the base line privacy standards which the Australian and ACT government agencies need to comply with in relation to personal information kept in their records. Privacy is a national and international issue for both the public and private sector. Staff needs to be familiar with the Act and learn about privacy, as they will be subject to the Act and IPPs from 1 July 2003. Privacy laws in other jurisdictions have raised the public's awareness about privacy issues and many people now expect that their privacy will be respected.

Traditionally, two types of choice/consent regimes have been considered: opt-in or opt-out. Opt-in regimes require affirmative steps by the consumer to allow the collection and/or use of information; opt-out regimes require affirmative steps to prevent the collection and/or use of such information. (Philip, 1998) The distinction lies in the default rule when no affirmative steps are taken by the consumer. Choice can also involve more than a binary yes/no option. Entities can, and do, allow consumers to tailor the nature of the information they reveal and the uses to which it will be put. Thus, for example, consumers can be provided separate choices as to whether they wish to be on a company's general internal mailing list or a marketing list sold to third parties. In order to be effective, any choice regime should provide a simple and easily-accessible way for consumers to exercise their choice. (Arapinis, 2010)

Question 2

Complying with the IPPs may require a shift of emphasis in order to give people more control over what personal information they provide to the Department and how it is used. For example, staff will be required to inform the public the purpose of collecting their personal information.

Privacy is ...