Australians are very concerned about the risks of scammers gaining access to their personal information, and a majority of Guardian Essential poll respondents would support more restrictions on the amount of information companies can collect.
The latest survey of 1,050 voters was taken after Optus confirmed a massive data breach in which the personal information of more than 10 million customers had been exposed – with at least 2.1 million having key identity documents stolen, such as their passport, Medicare or drivers’ licence numbers.
The Albanese government has flagged that it will look at overhauling privacy laws after it emerged that Optus – which is a subsidiary of global telecommunications firm Singtel – had kept private information for years, even after customers had cancelled their contracts.
The new Guardian Essential poll indicates that only a small number of respondents, 21% of the sample, had been directly affected by the Optus breach, although 16% of poll participants were unsure whether or not they had been affected.
But the new data suggests Australians are worried about their privacy online. The poll finds 51% of people would support stronger curbs on the amount of information private companies can collect about consumers, while 47% are worried about governments collecting their personal information.
A number of respondents (41% in both cases) would also support tougher restrictions on the use of facial-recognition technology to predict behaviour and limit the decisions that can be made about consumers by artificial intelligence.
Participants were asked to express views about online privacy regardless of whether or not they had been personally affected by the Optus breach.
Significant majorities of respondents were concerned that scammers could steal their identity to set up a bank account (85% of poll participants) or steal their identity to access their social media accounts (76%). People are also concerned about scammers sending fraudulent emails and text messages (78%).
The cybersecurity minister, Clare O’Neil, has blasted Optus for failing to safeguard the interests of its customers.
“What is of concern for us is how what is quite a basic hack was undertaken on Optus,” O’Neil told the ABC. “We should not have a telecommunications provider in this country which has effectively left the window open for data of this nature to be stolen.”
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has also fired a broadside at the company, characterising the incident as unacceptable.
