An overwhelming majority of Australians are clamouring for more control over their personal data, according to the latest findings from the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey (ACAPS) - not a surprising sentiment when nearly half the population of the country are victims of data breach.
The survey conducted by the Office of Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) indicates that 84% of Australians want increased control and say over how their personal data is collected and utilised.
This growing concern about data privacy is echoed by other statistics. While 82% are keen on actively safeguarding their data, 57% admit they don't know the best measures to employ.
Furthermore, only 32% of respondents expressed feeling in command of their data privacy currently.
Australians view data breaches and scammers as the top privacy risks they face.
Watch the video to hear 5 Australians discuss these risks and other concerns.
Read more about what Australians consider to be the biggest privacy risks in 2023: https://t.co/AjM4u0ps9F#ACAPS2023 pic.twitter.com/6NaRQfmCrO
— OAIC (@OAICgov) August 20, 2023
Data breach – top privacy concern
Data breaches remain a significant threat, with 74% identifying them as one of their top privacy concerns, marking a 13% increase from the sentiment in 2020.
On the brighter side, many Australians are already taking proactive steps, such as verifying emails, text messages and phone calls to avoid scams and consistently using unique, unshared passwords.
When it comes to choosing products or services, the importance of privacy is paramount. A total of 70% of participants deemed privacy as "extremely" or "very" important, with an additional 26% considering it "quite" important.
Thus, in terms of priority, only quality and price rank higher than data privacy in purchase decisions.
Country at Crossroads
OAIC commissioner Angelene Falk shed light on the evolving landscape, stating, "Since our last ACAPS three years ago, pivotal events like the COVID-19 pandemic, high-profile data breaches and rapid technological advancements have catapulted the issue of privacy into a central position in public discourse."
Highlighting the necessity of addressing these concerns, Falk added, "We're at a crossroads in Australia's approach to privacy.
“There's an amplified understanding of its role in our personal agency, autonomy, and broader societal values and we must ensure that our systems and laws evolve to protect this fundamental human right."
We surveyed over 1,900 Australian adults to build a picture around privacy attitudes and experiences in Australia as a part of our Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey 2023. pic.twitter.com/sYlf4u9n0i
— OAIC (@OAICgov) August 7, 2023
Half of Australians victim of data breach
One alarming discovery from the survey is that almost half of Australians had experienced a data breach in the preceding year with three-quarters of those affected experiencing resultant harm.
Additionally, the rise of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition is introducing new avenues of potential privacy risks, which many feel intersect closely with human rights.
“AI, while promising broad economic growth, is approached with caution by Australians, especially when it's tasked with making decisions that might directly affect them," said Falk.