Knee-jerk corporate responses to data leaks protect brands like Qantas — but consumers are getting screwed

Qantas argues that an injunction against accessing leaked data protects customers but experts say scammers ignore it and it prevents legitimate organisations from verifying the data or reporting on it. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

It’s become the playbook for big Australian companies that have customer data stolen in a cyber-attack: call in the lawyers and get a court to block anyone from accessing it.

Qantas ran it after suffering a major cybersecurity attack that accessed the frequent flyer details of 5 million customers.