Frequent Data Breaches and Emerging Privacy Concerns

This article discusses the frequent data breaches and emerging privacy concerns in various sectors. It highlights the need for a common law and regulatory framework to ensure the privacy of citizens. It also discusses the GDPR and Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2017 in Australia.

Running head: FREQUENT DATA BREACHES AND EMERGING PRIVACY CONCERNS
FREQUENT DATA BREACHES AND EMERGING PRIVACY CONCERNS
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1FREQUENT DATA BREACHES AND EMERGING PRIVACY CONCERNS
A data breach occurs when there is release of secured private and confidential
information in an unreliable environment intentionally or unintentionally. Several businesses and
government organization operate on the basis of personal data of the citizens which must be
secured from invalid access of data from strange sources. Privacy of the citizens must be one of
the fundamental denominator in determining the operation of any business or government
agency. However, the recent spate of data breaches including Facebook data breach, PageUp
People breach and data breach at Equifax and so on in diverse sectors has garnered widespread
attention from all avenues in the newspapers (Koehn, 2018). Reports suggests that according to
the Privacy Commissioner, there were 63 breaches reported in the first six weeks – more than 10
breaches a week. This calls for a common law and regulatory framework to ensure that the
privacy of the citizens is the foremost priority in the operations of the business worldwide.
European regulators brought in a landmark legislation General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) which was still long overdue in Australia and many other countries.
On the other hand Australia brought Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act
2017 which has been passed to establish Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme which aims to
notify the individuals where the personal data has the likelihood of the data breach. This
notification must be supplemented responsive action that must be taken by the individuals in case
of data breach ("Notifiable Data Breaches scheme| Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner - OAIC", 2018). This is a remarkable step in the backdrop of upsurge in frequent
personal as well as financial data breaches. Data breaches has a hefty cost which the company
has to bear as witnessed in data breach at Equifax amounts to a cost of US$430 million. A survey
by HP Australia IT Security Study highlights that 46% of small-to-medium sized businesses
(SMBs) said that most of their customers are refraining from data collection and sharing ("Aus

2FREQUENT DATA BREACHES AND EMERGING PRIVACY CONCERNS
SMBs not concerned enough about data privacy - study", 2018). While these information is
necessary for their business operations losing out on this is causing major losses to the business.
Further the news reports suggests that the SBMS are not adequately prepared for the NDB
Scheme and upgrading their software and IT Security to protect their data from cyber-attacks.
Privacy concerns has kept many business laid back from smooth functioning as the citizens are
now thinking twice before sharing any private information ("Have we reached peak data breach
notification fatigue? - Data Protection - Australia", 2018).
Data mining of these private information has led to innovation and development of
goods and services so as to provide a customized solution to the problems. This has led to
evolution of new age business forms to cater the demand of the current generation. From hiring a
basic cab, ordering a meal to accessing social media for entertainment requires a detailed list of
information of the customers. In case of a kind of data breach, such vital information is at stake
which can be misused thus infringing upon the privacy of the citizens. The customers need to
more aware in sharing their private information while the commercial firms should have
adequate mechanisms to prevent such data breaches which not only cost them economically but
also hampers the goodwill, trust and confidence of all the stakeholders involved in the process of
the business. Government on the other hand should strengthen its legislation by building proper
frameworks and adopt a multi-pronged approach in tackling issues such contested issues of data
piracy and frequent breaches.

3FREQUENT DATA BREACHES AND EMERGING PRIVACY CONCERNS
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References
Aus SMBs not concerned enough about data privacy - study. (2018). Retrieved from
https://securitybrief.com.au/story/aus-smbs-not-concerned-enough-about-data-privacy-
study
Have we reached peak data breach notification fatigue? - Data Protection - Australia. (2018).
Retrieved from
http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/747082/data+protection/Have+we+reached+peak+d
ata+breach+notification+fatigue
Koehn, E. (2018). Human error to blame for 30% of data breaches: commission. Retrieved from
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/human-error-to-blame-for-30pc-of-
data-breaches-commission-20181010-p508u7.html
Notifiable Data Breaches scheme| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC.
(2018). Retrieved from https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law/privacy-act/notifiable-data-
breaches-scheme