Privacy and the public interest Wednesday 02 January, 2002 The Age Any commodity increases in value as it becomes more scarce. Privacy is no exception. As our medical records are computerized, our Internet transactions logged and our banking done electronically, it becomes easier for govts and other undesirables to ferret out information about us. Add to this the huge amount of personal data maintained by large institutions such as insurance companies and remailers that operate loyalty schemes, and the need to shield oneself from unwanted scrutiny becomes even more pressing. This makes the Federal Government's new privacy legislation welcome, even though it has its flaws. The legislation, which took effect just before Christmas, forbids companies to pass on personal information to third parties without the consent of the individual concerned. Consumer groups have expressed disappointment that the new laws do not ban the collection of large databases of personal information for marketing purposes but consumers do now have the right to opt out of direct marketing lists, and marketers will be obliged to tell consumers how to do this. A key change is that consumers, including medical patients, will be able to demand access to information that is held about them and have the right to correct any errors More at ... http://www.it.mycareer.com.au/news/2002/01/02/FFXNGYPZXVC.html