Privacy Rights: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how your personal information is protected when dealing with businesses and how to make a complaint if your rights are breached.
This scheme provides legal protections for your personal information when it is held by various businesses.
Who it's for
This protection is designed for all individuals. Whether you are a consumer, an employee, or a private service provider, these rights are intended to apply to you as an individual person.
What you get
When you interact with covered businesses, you get protections regarding how they collect, use, and hold your personal information. This means businesses must follow specific rules regarding the privacy of the data they maintain about you. These protections are designed to ensure that your sensitive details are handled with care and that you have recourse if your information is managed incorrectly.
What it costs you
There is no cost to access these protections or to use the formal complaints process. If you feel your privacy has been breached, you can engage with the official complaint process without having to pay a fee.
The catch to know
It is important to understand that these protections do not apply to every single business. There are specific exemptions in place for certain entities, particularly regarding the size of the business and its annual turnover. Because some small businesses are exempt from certain requirements, you should check whether the specific provider you are dealing with is covered by these privacy rules before lodging a formal complaint.
How to apply
- Identify the specific issue you have regarding how your personal information is being handled or held.
- Contact the business directly to express your concern and attempt to resolve the matter with them first.
- If the business does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you can move to the formal complaint stage.
- Visit the official portal for more guidance and to start the process: https://www.oaic.gov.au