OAIC Medibank action a wakeup call for organisations to uplift privacy compliance

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has made data breaches a regulatory priority for 2023-2024, with an increased focus on regulatory action where there may be serious failures to take reasonable steps to protect personal information, inappropriate data retention practices or failures to comply with the notification procedure from the Notifiable Data Breaches […]

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AI’s Ultron Moment – Johansson Takes on OpenAI Over Uncanny Voice Resemblance

You’ve heard of a lookalike, but have you heard of a soundalike? The Aural Uncanny Valley: it’s something that sounds the same as something else, but is just not quite right.  New generative AI (gen-AI) tools have boldly gone where no human has gone before, using AI-generated voices to create song covers by your favourite […]

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Be GLAD it’s not you! ACCC launches Federal Court greenwashing proceedings against Clorox Australia Pty Ltd

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently announced that it has commenced Federal Court proceedings against the manufacturer of GLAD-branded kitchen and garbage bag products, Clorox Australia Pty Ltd (GLAD), for alleged false or misleading representations displayed on their products and packaging. This comes after the ACCC released guidance on environmental claims in December […]

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FMCG Express | March 2024 Edition

In this edition of FMCG Express we consider the regulatory landscape of AI, what to do when you receive a (potentially) defamatory online review, recent Fair Work Act changes (particularly how these changes affect casual workers), and we consider specifics around ESG reporting. Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team have prepared this edition to […]

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New announcements made ahead of Federal Government’s updated Cyber Security Strategy release

Cyber note – New developments: Australian businesses to report cyber ransom demands under proposed no-fault system New cyber-risk reporting requirements for Australian telcos With its updated Cyber Security Strategy expected to be released next week, the Federal Government has set the scene, by making a number of early announcements. What is telling is that these […]

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A step in the right direction – Australian Government Response to Privacy Act Reforms

Following the Attorney-General’s Department’s Privacy Act Review Report published in February 2023 (Report), the Australian Government has just published its response to the Report (Response). The Response follows submissions from various stakeholders (including by a submission by Gadens) on the 116 proposals in the Report that look to overhaul the current Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) […]

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FMCG Express | September 2023 Edition

In this edition of FMCG Express we consider the practicalities of implementing UCT regime required changes, recent ACCC enforcement activity and consider what risks ‘greenwashing’ can pose for our clients. We also touch on employer obligations regarding psychosocial safety and hazards, the Retail Award and other legislative changes. Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team […]

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The decision is clear – the AAT confirms that the Privacy Act applies to Clearview AI’s conduct

As briefly noted in our Gadens Regulatory Recap on 30 May 2023, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has recently handed down its decision regarding the conduct of Clearview AI Inc (Clearview AI), confirming the applicability of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) to the conduct of entities overseas, and recent amendments to the Privacy […]

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Privacy Act Reforms – will individuals’ rights impact your business?

It has only been three months since the Attorney General’s Office released its report (Report) on the proposed amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). The Report made 116 recommendations for reform. The recommended reforms are extensive and will, if implemented, have a substantial effect on how businesses regulated under the Privacy Act […]

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Employers, brace for changes to the Privacy Act’s employee record exemption

With everything and everyone moving online, going paperless and adopting flexible work practices, it’s no wonder employers are collecting more and more personal information, including sensitive personal information, from their employees. The employee record exemption At present, an organisation acting in its capacity as the employer (or former employer) of an individual in relation to […]

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Senate to shine spotlight on concerning greenwashing behaviour

On 29 March 2023, the Senate announced a landmark inquiry into the practice of greenwashing in Australia, with its final report due for publication by 5 December 2023. This development echoes growing concerns both in Australia and globally regarding greenwashing by businesses across a range of sectors, including the making of vague, false or misleading […]

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FMCG Express | March 2023 Edition

The latest edition of FMCG Express goes straight to the heart of legal issues affecting corporate Australia in 2023; reforms to unfair contracts legislation; changes to the Fair Work Act; privacy law amendments; and cyber and data security. Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team of contributors are at the forefront of the analysis of […]

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