Business needs to take seriously these fears of their customers. From this it is clear that the commissioner sees privacy as necessary for business, or at least the lack of privacy as an impediment to business. The OECD principles have reasonable exceptions to personal privacy rules, such as when a doctor urgently needs information to treat an unconscious patient or a police officer for legitimate law enforcement. Few people may give permission for this form of marketing, but it is not the Privacy Commissioner's job to protect questionable business practices. Like other public goods, privacy is something which is needed, but cannot be provided by a market system.
Privacy requires action by governments.
Australians will not use the Internet for business if they do not believe their privacy is being protected. Australia requires privacy laws to prevent some sectors of Australian industry, particularly those involved in on-line trade, being severely disadvantaged in international commerce. The Federal Government should re-task the Privacy Commissioner to develop the legislative framework to meet privacy standards, in consultation with the states. The alternative of piecemeal implementation by state governments, would be expensive and quite unworkable. This document was prepared by Tom Worthington , Immediate Past President of the Australian Computer Society, using material drawn from his article Privacy - a Public Good , published in Australian Communications , April 1998.