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ONE quarter of Australians say they regularly provide false information on online forms as a way of protecting their privacy, according to a national survey commissioned by the Office of the Australian Privacy Commissioner.
And half of Australians say they are more concerned about giving personal information over the internet than they were a year ago.
Conducted by the Wallis Consulting Group on behalf of the Office, the survey consisted of telephone interviews with a representative sample of 1500 Australians nationwide.
“It is understandable that Australians hold concerns about the impact technology can have on their privacy, particularly given the rapid pace at which technology has evolved in recent years,” Australian Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis said.
The survey found that consumers’ trust in government agencies has improved in the four years’ the privacy agency has conducted the survey – rising from 64 per cent to 73 per cent.
And more than a third of consumers say they would not deal with a company or charity if they were concerned about the company’s protection or use of their personal information.
Ms Curtis had a special warning for pubs, clubs and other organisations that scan people’s ID documents – a practice that has become more commonplace.
“If pubs and clubs that scan people's ID fail to heed their obligations under the Privacy Act, they run the risk of breaching their customers' privacy and having a privacy complaint lodged against them,” Ms Curtis said.
According to the results the survey, only 18 per cent of Australians believe that it is acceptable for their ID to be copied or scanned when entering licensed premises, although 80 per cent were comfortable about being required to show the ID.
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