Privacy Code Review

ADIA > Privacy Code Review

The consultation period is now closed.

Crowd of people in Australian city shopping street

The Australian Data and Insights Association (ADIA) is reviewing the Privacy (Market and Social Research) Code that governs how data, insights, and research member companies manage Australians’ personal information.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This Code has protected people’s privacy in market and social research for more than 20 years. It’s the only industry code of its kind registered with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

The Code is administered by the Australian Data and Insights Association (ADIA) and adjudicated by the Australian Privacy Commissioner. Every five years, an independent reviewer checks whether it’s still doing its job — and this year, that reviewer is former Senator the Hon. Terry Aulich.

The review is looking at updates in a few key areas:

How the Code deals with AI and new technology
Extra protections for children and young people’s privacy
Rules around sharing personal information overseas
Stronger enforcement, and clearer responsibilities for the people in charge of privacy at ADIA member organisations.

A SHORT HISTORY

The ADIA Privacy Code (covering market and social research) has been registered under the Privacy Act since 2003 — making it the first, and still the only, industry code of its kind on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s register. For more than 20 years, ADIA members have operated under its rules, which go beyond standard legal requirements.

Because it’s a registered code, it must be independently reviewed every five years to check it’s still fit for purpose. The current version dates from 2021, and this review — led by former Senator the Hon. Terry Aulich — is that five-yearly check.