Privacy

• Final report released on privacy reforms

  21st Nov 2024

• Client privacy concerns: Lawyers call for urgent clarity re email search parameters

  8th Feb 2023

  Lawyers in Victoria are calling for urgent clarification around the rules that allowed the Bar Council to access barristers’ private emails and could put client confidentially at risk.

• COVID-19 tracing data must be protected by law nationally

  7th Oct 2021

  Federal legislation is urgently needed to ensure COVID-19 tracing data is used only for health purposes in every state and territory, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) as the Greens plan to introduce a bill to Parliament that will ban law enforcement agencies from accessing this data.

• Human rights violations now enshrined in legislation

  23rd Sep 2021

  The recently passed Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill allows security agencies to access and manipulate citizens’ data ­– adding to the already wide suite of powers security agencies have to surveil and track. Greg Barns SC explains how this law operates (including the introduction of a ‘data disruption warrant’) and argues that it shows little to no regard for the right to privacy and the rule of law.

• NSW set to introduce mandatory data breach notification scheme to protect privacy

  19th Aug 2021

  Michael McHugh discusses the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Amendment Bill and how the amendments aim to protect the privacy of citizens by introducing mandatory data breach notifications. But will these proposed laws produce the intended result?

• Misuse of COVID-19 tracing data must be punishable with sanctions and liability

  25th Jun 2021

  Heavy penalties are needed for leaders in police, law enforcement and security agencies when they facilitate, or turn a blind eye to, the unlawful gathering and use of COVID-19 tracing data, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

• Spy apps: Privacy protection or illegal surveillance?

  15th Apr 2021

  In the past few years, a growing number of free spy apps have appeared on the market. What is most alarming about this phenomenon is the blurred line of legality in these apps which have a wide range of uses, from offering anti-spyware that protects a user’s private information to enabling illegal surveillance. Nick Burton provides an overview of the most commonly used spy apps and discusses the legalities of using these apps.

• COVIDSafe legislation welcomed but needs to better protect our right to opt in or out

  11th May 2020

  The COVIDSafe tracing app needs a strong legal framework to safeguard our rights and privacy and the release of draft legislation is welcome, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

• Legislation needed to manage privacy & data abuse concerns of COVID-19 tracing app

  21st Apr 2020

  The COVID-19 tracing app needs a strong legal framework to safeguard our rights and privacy, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

• Aboriginal group launches defamation case against Channel 7

  11th Jul 2019

  Peter O’Brien represents a group of clients from the NT community of Yirrkala, who are suing Channel 7 in the Federal Court following a segment that was broadcast on Sunrise Breakfast. In June, Channel 7 attempted that argue that the community members’ Statement of Claim should be struck out.

• Police raids on journalists: very disturbing

  5th Jun 2019

  The Australian Federal Police raids on a News Limited journalist yesterday and the ABC today are very disturbing attempts to harass and bully journalists and their sources, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

• Police raid on journalist’s home threatens democracy, say lawyers

  4th Jun 2019

  The law must protect journalists and their sources from harassment by police and security agencies, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) commenting on today’s Australian Federal Police raid on News Limited journalist Annika Smethurst’s home.

• Photography and the law – when is it illegal to take a photo?

  9th May 2019

  Geoff Baldwin explores the rapidly changing nature and capabilities of modern photography and the laws surrounding it.

• Legal professional privilege is a crucial element in maintaining the rule of law

  14th Mar 2019

  Amy Nikolovski discusses the roundly condemned actions of Melbourne's 'Lawyer X', Nicola Gobbo, and the importance of legal professional privilege.