Open Editorial: Protecting Personal Privacy in the Digital Era

This essay delves into the complex relationship between technology and personal privacy, focusing on the Australian context. It explores various technologies, such as cloud computing, Bluetooth, and tracking devices, and their potential impact on individual privacy. The essay highlights the importance of the Privacy Act 1988 and the guidelines provided by the Department of Communications and the Australian Communications and Media Authority. It provides practical advice on protecting personal information, including securing devices, managing application permissions, and practicing safe online behavior. The essay also covers the scope of the Privacy Act, outlining which entities are bound by it and the penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, it discusses key principles of the act, such as the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information, emphasizing the need for transparency, consent, and data quality. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of adhering to privacy regulations and implementing security measures to safeguard personal information in the digital age.

Running head: OPEN EDITORIAL
Open editorial
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Make the impersonal; Personal
There is much type of technologies that may
create an impact on the privacy of the
individual persons. These technologies
causes lot of potential damage on the
privacy of the persons, which may include
cloud computing, Bluetooth technology,
devices that help in tracking along with
biometric technology. It is also inclusive of
other technologies such as the use of smart
cards, electronic tolls and the radio
frequency that can be tracked after goods are
purchased. It is also seen that technologies
help in enhancing the privacy of the
individuals as well when used in a proper
manner. The use of the technologies has to
be done in a proper manner so that the
personal information of the individual is not
shared along with the activity.
The Department of Communications
provides the individuals with fact sheets so
that they can get to know about the various
security and privacy issues that are related to
different issues with respect to technologies.
The Australian Communications and Media
Authority has provided various safety
guidelines with respect to the internet
security so that individuals can protect
themselves through the use of these
technologies.
While protecting the tablets or the smart
phones for storing the personal information
of the individual, the persons need to put a
lock on their phone so that no one else can
access the gadget. The Bluetooth device of
the gadget needs to be switched off so that it
cannot be discovered by anyone, which may
result in the leak of the information. The
applications that allow the individual in
sharing their locations should be switched
on only when it is necessary so that it cannot
be misused. The Wi-Fi networks that are
encrypted with the phone needs to have a

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password so that the user can only access it
whenever he/she needs it. The history of the
internet browser needs to be erased on a
regular basis so that it does not fall in to any
unwanted hands, which can lead to misuse
of the information. The individuals need to
download the applications that are necessary
only through the official trusted sources so
that it can be verified later on, if any
problem arises.
The individuals also need to follow some
protocols that will help them in protecting
themselves online. The privacy records that
are uploaded on the online portals needs to
maintain certain privacies so that the
personal information that is provided can be
accessed by limited personnel only, which
will help in protecting the information. The
safety tips that may be followed by the
individual is that the security software that is
present in the computer or the laptops needs
to have anti-spyware, firewall softwares and
anti-virus scanners so that the internet lines
can be secured. The privacy policies and the
notices that are present on the websites need
to be studied in a careful manner so that the
individuals can get all the information that
they want.
The softwares need to be downloaded
through trusted sources by paying the
official sites so that it can help in protecting
the individual persons from being caught in
some kind of fraudulent activities. The
individuals need to avoid providing the
username or the password in the unsecured
websites so that it does not fall into wrong
hands.
The Privacy Act 1988 ensures that the
personal details and the information of the
individuals can be complied in a better
manner through the use of these
applications, which is inclusive of the
information that is available on the cloud.
The diversity that is present on the cloud
devices are a set of rules that is being
provided by the Office of the Australian

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Information Commissioner (OAIC), which
helps the individuals from staying away than
breaching the privacy.
The Privacy Act has to be complied by
many entities, which are agencies under the
federal government or are holders of the
office. The organizations that are in
partnership or association along with the
individual organizations all have to comply
with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act does
not include the entities that are small
business operators along with the political
parties and the territory or state authorities.
However, it is to be noted that the small
operators of business, which has a turnover
that is more than $3 million can be complied
under this act. It also includes the services of
health and the credit bodies that are
responsible for reporting.
The features that are included in the act are
the principles, which help in governing the
personal information that can be collected
and stored. The provision of the act, which
is related to the credit reporting provisions,
is related to the personal information of the
credible sources that can be collected and
stored.
The privacy principles that is present in
Australia helps in the transparent
management of the personal information of
the individuals, which helps in ensuring
them in dealing with the complaints and
inquiries. It also helps the individuals in
developing the policies so that the personal
information can be managed in a proper
manner. The anonymity and the
pseudonymity of the individuals will be
excluded if not otherwise mentioned.
The collection of the personal information
that is solicited in nature can be collected
through the legitimate activities and
functions. The personal information that
needs to be collected can be done in a direct
manner so that the impracticable and other
exceptions can be excluded. The consent of

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the individual persons needs to be taken
before collecting their personal information
so that it can be done in a transparent
manner.
The personal information that is collected
from the overseas recipients has to be done
following some basic steps so that the
privacy of the individuals does not get
breached. The contractual obligations that
are present on the recipients help the
individuals in following the guidelines so
that they can be protected. The adoption or
the disclosure of the identifiers that are
related to the government has to be
authorized by the law so that it can help in
verifying the identity of the individual.
The quality of the personal information has
to be to up-to-date so that it can be accurate
and complete that is being provided by the
individual person. The information of the
individual that is personal in nature can be
disclosed up to the extent that is required by
the other party. This will help in limiting the
pass out of the personal information, as it
helps in putting forward that information
that is only necessary for completing the
particular activity.
There are penalties that are imposed on the
individuals for breaching the Privacy Act
where the corporate bodies have to pay a
penalty of $1.8 million and $360,000 for the
bodies that are not corporate in nature. The
entity known as the APP will be interfering
with the entities if the provisions that are
present for reporting on credit is found to
breach the act along with the breach of the
CR code as well. The services that are being
provided under the Commonwealth contract
has to be done if they breach the contract as
well.

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