Chair of the Federal Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, Senator Catryna Bilyk, has used this year’s annual Privacy Awareness Week to call upon all Tasmanians to use a new tool developed by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to check their risk of ID Theft.

“The focus of this year’s Privacy Awareness Week is on encouraging individuals to be mindful about protecting their privacy. The ID Theft Tool developed by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is a handy way for people to check their risk of ID theft and to learn safer privacy behaviour,” said Senator Bilyk.

The easy online test looks at 11 situations in which you might be subject to ID thefts.

“Information tools such as the ID Theft Tool are valuable in highlighting privacy risks in a time where technological developments are moving faster than ever before. In the digital age, as Australians connect with each other through social media, purchase footy tickets or pay bills online, it is vital that our personal information is securely protected,” said Senator Bilyk.

The ongoing development of the digital economy, with larger amounts of personal information going online, has forced government, business and consumers to be more aware of, and prepared for, the privacy risks. Evidence recently given to the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-safety by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) estimates that Australians lose in excess of $1 billion a year to cyber criminals

“While reforms to the law can go some way to building an effective privacy protection framework, it’s becoming clear that individuals also need to play their part in taking steps to guard against privacy breaches,” said Senator Bilyk.

“It is important that we continue to encourage safe privacy behaviour as a natural part of being a digital citizen, as it will assist in lowering the incidences where privacy is breached”.

Privacy Awareness Week is an initiative of the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities which includes the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Privacy Awareness Week 2013 is to be held from 28 April to 4 May.

The ID Theft Tool is available at http://www.privacyawarenessweek.org/resources/id-theft-tool/index.html
Senator Catryna Bilyk Labor Senator for Tasmania Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety