If experience in the UK is anything to go by, the frequency of customers' requests for

personal information will increase. In 2000 the number of requests for information

made under the 1994 code of practice on access to government information increased by

23 percent.

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The code obliges local council and other public bodies to disclose any information

they have to individuals or organizations that request it.

About Australia s privacy laws

The Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988

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lays down strict privacy safeguards which

Commonwealth (federal) and ACT government agencies must observe when collecting,

storing, using and disclosing personal information. The act also gives individuals the

right to access and amend their personal information. 

The act applies to the wider community (including the private sector, and state and

local governments) only in relation to specific categories of information: tax file 

numbers and consumer credit information. 

Other Commonwealth laws contain privacy provisions relating to information about

health insurance claims, data matching, information about former criminal convictions

and personal information disclosed by telecommunications companies. 

Privacy issues arise in a wide range of areas and circumstances. Privacy legislation

deals mainly with information privacy   the handling of personal information. Other

privacy issues such as video surveillance, telephone interception or  bugging , and 

physical intrusion into private spheres may be covered by other laws. The Privacy 

Commissioner s office can provide general advice. 

About Germany s privacy and security laws

There is a link to the German Information and Communication Services Act (Gesetz zur

Regelung der Rahmenbedingungen f r Informations  und Kommunikationsdienste

(Informations  und Kommunikationsdienste Gesetz   IuKDG) at: 

http://www.iid.de/rahmen/iukdgbt.html. 

The act is also available in English: 

http://www.iid.de/rahmen/iukdgebt.html

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