So far in 2026, many privacy issues have arisen in an array of diverse arenas: consent, collection, and disclosure in relation to smart glasses; questionable claims to anonymity in relation to pixels and their individuation of website visitors; and updated guidance on facial recognition technology, which enables the collection of sensitive biometric information, however brief….
Privacy law reform: weaving threads for a harmonious whole
Privacy reforms are on their way; here’s what you need to know. On 31 August, Attorney General Michelle Rowland released an exposure draft Bill to reform the federal Privacy Act. She also released a consultation paper to accompany the Bill. This is the next stage in the long-running review of the Privacy Act which commenced…
Tick and flick: what ’I agree’ really means to Australians in 2026
Australians aren’t ignoring privacy. They are exhausted by false choices. The ACAPS 2026 survey shows that the ‘I agree’ button is starting to look less like consent, and more like surrender. Be honest. The last time a privacy policy appeared on your screen, all forty-odd scrolls of it, how long did you spend reading it?…
Inching towards individuation: OAIC decision on pixels broadens scope of the Privacy Act
Two new cases demonstrate the risk from pixels, the reality of digital harms, and how the regulator is testing the boundaries of the law, with implications for all Do you know if your organisation’s website is leaking sensitive information about your customers, to third parties, which could be used to harm your customers and undermine…
How dark patterns can land you in hot water: new case offers lessons for all
A new determination from Australia’s privacy regulator offers lessons about design, power, and what ‘fairness’ requires of organisations handling personal information. Collection practices in the spotlight In April 2026, the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Carly Kind, found that IRE Pty Ltd, operators of the 2Apply rental application platform, had breached Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) 3.2, by…
