Source URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-12/albanese-government-will-outlaw-doxxing/104340372
Source: Hacker News
Title: Federal government to outlaw doxxing, impose up to seven years’ jail
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses proposed legislation in Australia aimed at criminalizing doxxing and modernizing the Privacy Act, addressing the malicious release of personal data online and strengthening protections for individuals, particularly minors. This is particularly relevant for privacy professionals and those involved in compliance and legal sectors in an increasingly digital age.
Detailed Description:
– The Australian government is introducing new legislation to outlaw doxxing, a malicious act of releasing personal data online.
– The proposed law would impose severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison for those publishing private details with harmful intent, particularly against targeted groups based on protected characteristics.
– The legislation aims to modernize the 1998 Privacy Act, which is deemed outdated in the current digital landscape.
– Key provisions include:
– Criminal charges for the willful publication of private information (such as names, addresses, and contact numbers).
– A new statutory tort that enables victims of serious privacy invasions to sue for damages.
– Increased protections specifically for minors, including the development of a children’s online privacy code that targets social media platforms and digital service providers.
– Privacy advocates are pushing for broader reforms, specifically targeting exemptions for small businesses from the need to protect personal data, although this particular change is not included in the current phase of reforms.
– The government’s efforts also include the introduction of a hate speech bill, which is expected to have a weaker stance than initially proposed.
This proposed legislation highlights significant shifts in privacy governance and compliance requirements, especially in the context of digital interactions. Compliance professionals will need to navigate these changes to ensure adherence to new privacy protections and understand the ramifications of doxxing laws for data management and user safety online. It also underscores the growing importance of securing personal data and implementing robust privacy practices across organizations, particularly in the digital realm where data breaches and personal attacks such as doxxing are becoming increasingly prevalent.