Tech giants are trying to obliterate privacy. Australia has a rare chance to take back part of their power | Lizzie O'Shea
News Source
β’Wed, 02 Sep 2026 03:00:05 GMT
π° What Happened
Australia has finally proposed new changes to the Privacy Act. The government first started talking about this five years ago. The changes aim to give people much stronger control over their data. Writer Lizzie O'Shea says they could not be more overdue or urgent.
O'Shea points to worrying trends in her opinion piece. 'Pervert glasses' are selling out at Kmart. Facial recognition technology is spreading through everyday spaces. Microtargeted advertising has filled our feeds with junk and toxic content.
She argues that strong legal protections for personal information are key. It is one of the most important ways to reshape technology for the many, not the few. Tick-a-box consent, she says, is a broken model.
π The Backstory
Privacy has become a huge issue as tech giants keep growing. Companies collect enormous amounts of personal data. They use it to target ads and build profiles of every user. This power lets them influence what people see, buy, and believe.
Australians strongly support meaningful change. Surveys show 93% say protecting personal information is important. About 87% say they are more worried about privacy than they were five years ago. But acting alone is almost impossible in the age of AI.
The proposed Privacy Act changes are a rare chance to act. Australia could set stronger rules for big tech companies. The rest of the world is watching how it handles the balance of power.
π― Why It Matters
Companies track your data to sell you things and shape what you see. Stronger privacy laws give you more control over that. This reform could change how your personal information is used for years.
Australia has finally proposed new changes to the Privacy Act. The government first started talking about this five years ago. The changes aim to give people much stronger control over their data. Writer Lizzie O'Shea says they could not be more overdue or urgent.
O'Shea points to worrying trends in her opinion piece. 'Pervert glasses' are selling out at Kmart. Facial recognition technology is spreading through everyday spaces. Microtargeted advertising has filled our feeds with junk and toxic content.
She argues that strong legal protections for personal information are key. It is one of the most important ways to reshape technology for the many, not the few. Tick-a-box consent, she says, is a broken model.
Privacy has become a huge issue as tech giants keep growing. Companies collect enormous amounts of personal data. They use it to target ads and build profiles of every user. This power lets them influence what people see, buy, and believe.
Australians strongly support meaningful change. Surveys show 93% say protecting personal information is important. About 87% say they are more worried about privacy than they were five years ago. But acting alone is almost impossible in the age of AI.
The proposed Privacy Act changes are a rare chance to act. Australia could set stronger rules for big tech companies. The rest of the world is watching how it handles the balance of power.
Companies track your data to sell you things and shape what you see. Stronger privacy laws give you more control over that. This reform could change how your personal information is used for years.