Proposed privacy code promises tough rules, $10 mn fines for tech giants

PRI GEN INT .SYDNEY FGN9 TECH-PRIVACY-CODE A new proposed privacy code promises tough rules and $10 million penalties for tech giants By Katharine Kemp, Graham Greenleaf,UNSW Sydney Sydney, Oct 28 (The Conversation) This week the federal government announced proposed legislation to develop an online privacy code (or OP Code) setting tougher privacy standards for Facebook, Google, Amazon and many other online platforms. These companies collect and use vast amounts of consumers’ personal data, much of it without their knowledge or real consent, and the code is intended to guard against privacy harms from these practices. The higher standards would be backed by increased penalties for interference with privacy under the Privacy Act and greater enforcement powers for the federal privacy commissioner.