23 December 2011
New privacy guidelines for broadcasters
The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s new Privacy Guidelines for Broadcasters 2011 include enhanced guidance for broadcasters on how the broadcasting codes protect the privacy of Australians, whether or not in a public place. The guidelines also deal with consent, children, public figures, material in the public domain and public interest.
‘The aim is to further increase awareness of code privacy obligations developed by industry in broadcasting codes of practice and to assist broadcasters to better understand these obligations,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
‘Research findings show that the ACMA’s approach to the privacy protections in the broadcasting codes is very much in step with community attitudes.
‘The new guidelines are principles-based and include new case studies based on the ACMA’s investigations into broadcasting privacy complaints.’
This completes the first review of the guidelines since they were introduced in 2005.
The revisions take into account current code provisions, ACMA investigations into privacy complaints, research into community attitudes to media privacy commissioned by the ACMA, law reform recommendations and developments in the law.
‘The ACMA consulted on its draft guidelines in August and received 15 responses from broadcasting industry groups and privacy organisations. The ACMA carefully considered submissions and clarified the ambit of the guidelines as falling within codes of practice.
The ACMA’s research reports Community research into broadcasting media privacy (2011) and Australians' views on privacy in broadcast news and current affairs (2011) are available on the ACMA’s website.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Emma Rossi, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7719, 0434 652 063 or media@acma.gov.au.
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The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is to make communications and media work in Australia’s public interest. For more information: www.acma.gov.au.
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