Current Measures to Protect E-Consumers’ Privacy in Australia

Abstract

The current measures to protect e-consumers’ privacy in Australia include (i) regulation/legislation, (ii) guidelines, (iii) codes of practice, and (iv) activities of consumer associations and the private sector. However, information about the outcomes of such measures has not been sufficiently reported, whereas privacy incidents have increased. Some policy implications for e-consumer protection are drawn from the analysis. Firstly, national privacy legislation should widen its coverage. Secondly, uniform regulations and guidelines could contribute to providing equal protection to e-consumers. Thirdly, guidelines and codes of practice need to be supported by legislation and a proper compliance regime. Corporate social responsibility by e-retailers is also required for effective adoption of self-regulatory measures. Fourthly, consumer education is important to enhance consumer awareness of online privacy risks and their ability to deal with such incidents. Finally, a combination of legal frameworks, technological, and human-behaviour related measures is more likely to address online privacy issues effectively.