Privacy & Trust Partnership


Background to the Privacy & Trust Partnership Project

There is evidence that current approaches to managing the risks to consumers and maximising the benefits of the information economy are ineffective and inefficient for individuals and for business.

For example, there is evidence that consumers can be overwhelmed but not enlightened by long disclosure statements, even where intended to allow informed consent. At the same time, the notice/consent process can be costly and time-consuming for business. Moreover, the current processes do not encourage business to consider or mitigate privacy and information security risks for individuals.

The aim of the project is to take the first steps in exploring options for a new approach that will facilitate appropriate use and networking of personal information, be cost effective, promote good privacy practice and build trust in data use. This new approach must recognise that the benefits of the information economy will be best realised if it is based on a solid foundation of consumer confidence and trust.

The project recognises the current Australian Law Reform Commission privacy inquiry, which will report in 2008.

The project looks beyond the inquiry in that:

  • it has a longer term focus of 5-10 years;
  • looks at how value can be created by the use and networking of personal information, and the appropriate data governance around that to deliver consumer trust;
  • it sets the privacy issue within the wider context of the limitations of an approach to consumer protection based primarily on disclosure and consent; and
  • it has a primary focus on the private sector.

The project aims to provide stakeholders, including privacy and consumer advocates regulators and business, with the opportunity to have detailed strategic discussions about privacy protection in a wider context. The project is not aimed at developing alternatives for the current privacy principles or the credit reporting provisions. Rather, it is looking to develop a framework for some possible future directions in privacy protection.

Expected outcomes

The project will not aim to achieve consensus or even make specific proposals. Rather, the aim is to build a new capacity for consideration of key issues in trust, privacy and the information economy. The project will:

  • report on detailed discussions;
  • detail a possible framework and a number of possible directions and themes;
  • identify the interests of key stakeholders and areas of agreement and disagreement.

A report in early 2008 will aim to provide input to future thinking by policy makers, business and privacy and consumer protection experts.

Process and timetable

The project will span a period of six months and will involve:

Who is involved?

The project was initiated by Veda Advantage and is now managed by a consortium of 6-8 organisations spanning a number of business sectors.

Consultants to the project, Information Integrity Solutions Pty Ltd will prepare the white papers and will undertake research and provide opportunities for detailed stakeholder discussions and input. A number of Australian consumer, privacy and community advocacy organisations, including some who have been in occasional dialogue with Veda and others who have recently joined the discussions.

The project will invite participation by relevant government agencies and regulators and privacy and consumer NGOs as well as the wider business community.

In recognition of the critical importance of constructive engagement with all stakeholders, and the limited resources available to privacy and consumer NGOs, the project consortium will provide funding to assist these stakeholders to participate fully.

For more information, please contact Matthew Walker on 02 9951 7646.