New mandatory ransomware payment reporting obligations now in force
Introduction Australia has taken a bold step in strengthening its cyber resilience with the introduction of the mandatory ransomware and cyber extortion payment reporting regime under Part 3 of the Cyber Security Act 2024 (Cyber Security Act). Effective from 30 May 2025, this new regime requires certain entities – including businesses with an annual turnover exceeding $3 million and […]
ReadmoreFull Federal Court decision in BPS Financial litigation – More questions than answers for AFS licensees and authorised representatives?
In the latest development in ASIC’s litigation against digital asset business BPS Financial Ltd (BPS), on 30 May 2025 the Full Federal Court has allowed ASIC’s appeal against the primary judge’s decision that BPS was entitled to rely on the widely utilised ‘authorised representative’ exemption (AR Exemption) in section 911A(2)(a)(i) of the Corporations Act for […]
ReadmoreCrypto judgment overturned: Block Earner succeeds in cross-appeal against ASIC
*Article updated as of 22 May 2025 The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia handed down its much-awaited decision on 22 April 2025, overturning the judgment of Justice Jackman in the Block Earner case.[1] The decision should give digital asset providers and market participants further clarity around the application of the complex financial services regime […]
ReadmoreTrade Mark Trickery: Fraudulent demands from fake IP firms
Our intellectual property (IP) team has been noticing a recent surge in sophisticated scams within the IP space using fraudulent emails purporting to be from legitimate IP firms – even using names of real Australian IP practitioners. This alert highlights key warning signs and suggests some protective measures to help businesses avoid falling victim to […]
ReadmoreBunnings’ use of facial recognition technology found to breach the Privacy Act – What lessons can be learned?
On 29 October 2024, after an almost 2-year investigation, the Australian Privacy Commissioner (Commissioner) determined that retail giant, Bunnings, had, through its use of facial recognition technology at 62 of its retail stores around the country between 6 November 2018 and 30 November 2021, interfered with the privacy of hundreds of thousands of customers.[1] Facial […]
ReadmoreA tectonic shift – Australia’s first dedicated Cyber Security Act
Hot off the heels of its first tranche of reforms to the Privacy Act, the Federal Government has released a raft of cyber security legislation to ‘achieve Australia’s vision of being a world leader in cyber security by 2030’,[1] including Australia’s first dedicated ‘Cyber Security Act.’ Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke introduced the: Cyber […]
ReadmoreFirst tranche of Privacy Act reforms enter parliament
The long-awaited Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) reforms are finally here, with the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 presented before parliament yesterday. After almost four years since the commencement of the Privacy Act Review, the government has introduced the first ‘tranche’ of these reforms. In tabling before parliament, the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus […]
ReadmorePrivacy & Data Law Series | Where are we now?
2024 is proving to be another significant year in the evolving privacy and data law environment. We have had some watershed announcements following the developments that took place during 2023, including the Government’s proposal to fast-track to August 2024 certain of the agreed changes proposed in their response to the Privacy Act Review Report (in particular […]
ReadmoreOAIC 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 […]
ReadmoreDraft legislation on Privacy Act Reforms brought forward to August as the Government respond to the ‘violence against women’ crisis
The Federal Government has announced a suite of preventative measures and legislative reforms following a national cabinet meeting yesterday addressing violence against women in Australia. Notably, the Government will bring forward legislation in August outlawing the release of private information online with an intent to cause harm, also known as ‘doxxing’. This is in addition […]
ReadmoreThe Legal 500 Life Sciences Comparative Guide 2024 – Australia
The inaugural edition of the Legal 500 Life Sciences Comparative Guide examines the current challenges facing organisations operating in the life sciences sector within specific countries. Gadens Life Sciences sector experts – Kelly Griffiths, Dudley Kneller, Raisa Blanco and Clare Smith – have co-authored the Australian chapter for this global guide, providing insight into the […]
ReadmoreNew 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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