The review, which is mandated to take place every five years, invites members of the public to give feedback on the privacy code, with their insights used to inform code amendments, as well as government and commercial research projects.

The independent review was announced in May, and is part of ADIA’s compliance obligations to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Updates to the code that have been proposed include on subjects such as AI adoption, children and youth privacy, overseas sharing of personal information, enforcement and an increase in ADIA member privacy officers’ responsibilities.

The ADIA has commissioned former Tasmanian senator, Terry Aulich, to lead and carry out the review, with Aulich having already completed an examination of the privacy code.

The public consultation closes on 13^th August.

Aulich said: “The ADIA Privacy Code continues to go beyond the standard legal requirements, establishing it as the model for systemic and sustained privacy policy and practice. The fact that the ADIA’s Privacy Code is the only industry code registered under the Privacy Act is testament to that.

“The code has held up well, but there are a number of social, technological, regulatory and compliance changes since 2021, which necessitates amendments to the code, particularly around AI, young people’s privacy and safety, online attacks which could diminish consumer trust, and recent legislative change.”

Professor Peter Leonard, Privacy Compliance Committee chair at the ADIA, said: “As technology rapidly evolves and new risks emerge, it is crucial to regularly review and strengthen our industry’s privacy safeguards.

“Reviewing and considering updates to the ADIA’s Privacy Code is an important part of that process, to ensure our standards reflect evolving best practices and provide clear guidance to, and guardrails for, our members.”