DIGITAL PLATFORMS INQUIRY RESPONSE – COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE

Sydney, 12 December 2019: Communications Alliance welcomes the opportunity to engage in the review of the Privacy Act, announced today as part of the Government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry.

“It is important that Australia’s privacy framework be fit-for-purpose in the digital age – but equally vital that any overhaul of the Privacy Act be underpinned by a full analysis of the economy-wide impact of proposed reforms; not just the impact on digital platforms,” said Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton.

“If the review pushed to include communications metadata as part of the definition of ‘personal information’ under privacy laws, for example, it must be demonstrated that this would create an actual benefit for consumers, and that this benefit would outweigh the enormous potential costs involved.”

“The review must also take account of the complexities flowing from the introduction of the Consumer Data Right (CDR) regime to selected industry verticals and of the experience gained from the implementation of the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).” 

“We are also pleased to see that the Government has resisted the ACCC’s calls for immediate reform to the Australian Consumer Law and a mandatory take-down code to assist copyright enforcement, and instead has committed to wider, more contextualised consultation on these matters of economy-wide importance.”

Communications Alliance is working with Government stakeholders to implement relevant recommendations of the Task Force to Combat Terrorist and Extreme Violent Material Online, which forms part of the Action Roadmap released by Government today.