COVIDSafe and pandemic blamed for delays to OAIC's tougher privacy breach powers: Attorney-General's Department

Sarah Basford Canales
Updated March 24 2021 - 6:39am, first published 6:30am
AGD deputy secretary Sarah Chidgey said COVIDsafe legislation and the pandemic were behind delays to proposed data breach penalty increase. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
AGD deputy secretary Sarah Chidgey said COVIDsafe legislation and the pandemic were behind delays to proposed data breach penalty increase. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The global pandemic and efforts to draft the COVIDSafe legislation have delayed the government's plans to introduce strong new penalties against social media companies who breach privacy laws, a senior department official has said.

Sarah Basford Canales

Sarah Basford Canales

Politics and public sector reporter

I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Contact me with general tips and thoughts at sarah.basfordcanales@canberratimes.com.au or confidential tips to sbasfordcanales@protonmail.com.