I was recently contacted by my real estate agent to say that she had arranged for a new stove to be paid for and picked up at a large well-known white goods supplier.  So I rang them to arrange payment and to let them know that the plumber would pick it up in a day [...]

TAMS has been surreptitiously tracking and recording the movements of residents in Canberra’s South through the interception of the private Bluetooth emissions of their mobile phones and car hands-free systems.

A few Fridays ago I texted ABC local radio 666 with a comment on a traffic issue – signing off with only my first name.
I was surprised to receive a call on my phone from an ACT Government ministerial adviser a few days later. It wasn’t an unpleasant call, but it wasn’t welcome or [...]

Last week the Liberals’ Vicki Dunne stole a march on Labor’s Joy Burch revealing lapses in child protection protocols which sparked an investigation.
But there was some backstory we didn’t think was particularly relevant at the time.
The Liberal head flack Hannah Passfield sent us copies of Ms Dunne’s correspondence with the media release, which we duly [...]

The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan has announced they’ll support point to point cameras in the ACT, but with some conditions.
The Greens have given in-principle support to the use of point to point cameras in the ACT, guaranteeing that they can be used for important road safety measures.
However, the Greens deferred final approval of the legislation, [...]

The Greens are making sure we know their workplace privacy laws come into force today.
“The laws ensure that no surveillance can occur without disclosure to employees. An employer must tell employees what kind of surveillance is being used and what the surveillance is for. Surveillance records cannot be disclosed or used for unrelated purposes.
“The new [...]

We have recently discovered that information held by Telstra/Sensis relating to our phones is accessible by other entities approved by the Australian Communications and Marketing Authority for specific purposes. This includes bodies whose functions at least partly include to provide directory assistance, print telephone directories or for research purposes. Also, various carriage [...]

ACT Policing is investigating an aggravated robbery at a brothel in Fyshwick overnight (Tuesday, June 14).
About 11.15pm three men have entered the Mi Mi Club on Lyell Street.
The manager has tried to usher the men into the waiting room when one of the men has punched him twice in the face, knocking him to the [...]

I’d like some advice.
A friend of mine has just received a letter from her property manager (she is a renter) stating that when they conduct the inspection in the next 10 days the property manager will be taking photos of everything.
I’d just like to know if this is legal from a privacy perspective?

The ABC has a piece on fear and loathing surrounding a Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services employee breaking the rules and taking home personal data on a laptop which was then stolen.
DHCS are swearing blind that there was nothing in the data usable for identity theft. But then they’d have sworn blind their [...]

Calling all political hacks out there – does your ACT party of choice keep secret files on people like the ALP in Victoria does? Do they even need to in a town with one degree of separation making software and databases unnecessary?
Some background: The Age reports that the ALP has been keeping secret files on [...]

The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan has announced she’s bringing the Workplace Privacy Bill into the Legislative Assembly:
“New technology enables surveillance to become ever more pervasive, and this bill represents an important protection to Canberra workers’ privacy,” Ms Bresnan said.
“Despite most businesses having some form of surveillance, there are currently no regulations at all.
“Our bill will ensure [...]

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For most of us we just have to live with the fact that a google car has been past our house taking photos. Here at RiotACT we support the right of anyone to take photos from public lands.
But a keen eyed reader has noted that there’s a weird gap at Mueller St Yarralumla [...]

Noticed it cruising down London Circuit at 1:50pm. Didn’t get a chance to make a rude or funny gesture.
It was a black / dark coloured hatch with the array of cameras on top. I think it had Google stickers on it.
Anyone else see it?

[ 11 November, 2009; 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm. ] The Australian Privacy Founation invites everyone to the Australian ‘Big Bother Awards’ 2009 (BBA2009), 11 November, at the Pot Belly.

The call for nominations for the BBA2009 was very successful. The Orwells are the Big Brother Awards that recognise organizations, technologies and people that have invaded or threaten to invade privacy. The Smiths acknowledge [...]

I was at the Hughes shops this morning waiting for a shop to open and perusing the notice board as I did so.  Someone had pinned up a print-out of a person’s profile from an internet dating site, helpfully amending some of the particulars (eg: adding a few years to the age provided).  It made [...]

With the dazzling Sydney Mardi Gras parade exploding in colour and pageantry along Oxford Street again this Saturday night, I have heard a disturbing report from my partner’s friend in Canberra.
Apparently an employee who enjoyed shedding his clothes in his spare time and putting the footage up on YouTube for others to enjoy was told [...]

[September 21, 2008 @ 11:39]
The Canberra Times brings word of the security measures at Sultan’s Nightclub (122 Alinga St, Civic) which have been in place for the last couple of weeks.
“The system involves patrons having their IDs scanned on entry, a digital photo taken and a finger pin the digital number generated from a fingerprint [...]