Western countries, particularly in Europe, have adopted privacy laws. Those laws not only govern internal handling of personal information in the country, but export of information. Australian organisations will not be able to participate in global business unless the Australian government adopts comparable laws. Our host for the event, the British Computer Society, arranged a presentation on British data privacy legislation. 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 us becoming an outcast in international on-line trade. 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.