The Latest Breaking News from Kate Bower

‘Alarm bells should be going off’ as mental health counselling app expands into Australia, critics say

Exclusive: Consumer advocates say BetterHelp’s wrongdoing overseas means privacy watchdog should investigate whether it has breached local laws

The Guardian - AU · Jun 17, 2024

Labor accused of double standards after excluding political parties from privacy crackdown

Albanese government plan draws criticism from Kate Chaney and David Pocock, who say voters want an end to data harvesting

The Guardian - AU · Sep 28, 2023

Data privacy changes to shield Australians from harm

A revamp of Australia's privacy laws will target "dark patterns" that lead to online users consenting to more intrusions than necessary.

AAP · Sep 28, 2023

Inside the 'opaque' property tech sector that helps real estate agents decide who gets a lease in a rental shortage

Australian technology companies that process rental applications for the real estate industry appear to be pulling back their platforms, as consumer backlash grows about the fledgling industry's allegedly "opaque" practices.

ABC News · Apr 17, 2023

Fertility apps collect unnecessary personal data and could sell it to third parties – study

Apps in Australia gathered information about finances and housing which could be sold to advertisers, research by UNSW and Choice found

The Guardian - AU · Mar 21, 2023

Woolworths expands self-checkout AI that critics say treats ‘every customer as a suspect’

Supermarket says cameras used to detect accidental wrong scans while experts say the technology is ‘punitive’ and call for reforms to protect privacy

The Guardian - AU · Feb 18, 2023

Business racing to use facial recognition technology, raising concerns the law is too slow to catch up

Clubs NSW says the scheme will be used to combat problem gambling, but experts warn of a lack of safeguards and regulation

The Guardian - AU · Oct 22, 2022

Optus’s week of hell: How nine days of confusion left 9.4 million Australians waiting for answers

The nine days which have elapsed since the largest data breach of its kind was disclosed have been filled with confusion, with Optus struggling to explain to customers who is affected and how.

ABC News · Sep 30, 2022

Optus hack renews calls for better protection of customers and their personal data

As Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin calls for "heightened vigilance" after a mass data breach, advocates say companies need to do more for consumers.

ABC News · Sep 23, 2022

CHOICE raises concern over Bunnings, Kmart and the Good Guys use of facial recognition technology

Consumer group CHOICE is referring Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner over their use of facial recognition technology.

ABC News · Jun 15, 2022