The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has joined a global campaign to highlight the obligations on video teleconferencing companies to handle people’s information responsibly.
Data protection and privacy authorities from around the world have signed an open letter to the companies reminding them of their responsibilities under the law.
Deputy Commissioner at the OAIC, Elizabeth Hampton said the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in a sharp uptake in the use of video teleconferencing software, increasing risks around the collection and use of personal information.
“The open letter provides video teleconferencing companies with principles to help them identify and address some of the key privacy risks, and better protect people’s personal information,” Ms Hampton said.
“We recognise that video teleconferencing companies offer a valuable service, allowing us all to stay connected regardless of where we are in the world, something that is especially important in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, she said, the ease of staying in touch must not come at the expense of people’s data protection and privacy rights.
The open letter is signed by six authorities brought together through the Global Privacy Assembly’s International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group.
In addition to the Australia’s Information Commissioner, the group includes the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority; the Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data; the Switzerland Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner; and the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office.
The letter is directed at all video conferencing companies, but has been sent directly to Microsoft, Cisco, Zoom, House Party and Google.
The regulators’ full letter can be accessed at the OAIC website at this PS News link.
