Use of personal data on the internet
Use of personal data on the internet
What's coming up?
We all need to register with companies or websites sometimes, but what do these companies do with our information?
In this activity, you'll find out about when you might need to supply personal information online and the restrictions on how companies can use it.
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Why do companies need personal information?
Information such as your name, address, telephone number, medical history, education and financial records are all examples of personal information.
Personal information is useful to legitimate companies in two ways:
- it verifies that you are who you say you are when buying goods and services
- it helps them to market their products and services to the most likely buyers.
Be careful
If personal information falls into the wrong hands, it can allow criminals to carry out identity theft.
Be careful with your personal information. For example, don't display your date of birth, address or other personal information on public websites like Facebook.
You can find out more about Facebook and other popular social media sites, including how to use them safely, in our Social media apps courses.
The Privacy Act
In Australia, the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), which includes the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), is the principal data protection legislation.
The 13 APPs govern standards, rights and obligations around:
- the collection, use and disclosure of personal information
- an organisation or agency's governance and accountability
- integrity and correction of personal information
- the rights of individuals to access their personal information.
Freedom of Information Act
It's not just companies that are covered by the law. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives you the right to ask any public body or institution for all the information they have on any subject you choose. Unless there's a good reason not to provide this information, the organisation must provide it within 30 working days.
Public bodies or institutions include:
- government departments
- local authorities and councils
- health trusts and hospitals
- schools, colleges and universities
- the police.
Company policy and personal information
Every company will have their own company Privacy policy with regard to how they use your personal information. It's worth reading these on new websites to check how they will handle your information before you sign up.
You can usually find a company's Privacy policy link near the bottom of the page on their website, or as part of their Terms and conditions for using their site.
eSafety tip
While the Privacy Act 1988 is designed to govern how companies and agencies operating in Australia use personal data, it is not always as clear cut when dealing with overseas companies.
It's best to check a company's Terms and conditions (T&Cs) or Privacy policy to find out how they handle your personal data and whether they on-sell it to third parties. You can then decide if you really want to sign up for their services.
Congratulations!
You've completed the Use of personal data on the internet activity.
You've learnt how companies might use your personal information and how you can obtain a copy of any information that they store about you.
In the next activity, Online payment and secure areas, you'll learn about buying things online.