Mobile Phones - Companies - Privacy Policies

Recognized as Australia’s three leading telephone/mobile phone companies, Vodafone, Optus and Telstra all operate under explicit Privacy Acts, Principles and Amendments. With an emphasis on safeguarding the personal information of customers, [www.vodafone.com.au/rep/about/legal/privacy_policy.jsp?gs=foryou&hd=about_vodafone&st=legal&ss=privacy_policy/ Vodafone], Optus and Telstra attempt to maintain high levels of customer service. As signaled by the public, privacy is of prominent importance.

There are four main pieces of legislation which telephone/mobile phone companies must adhere to. Optus outlines these on their website,

1. Telecommunications Act 1997 - regulates the disclosure of information about an individual's personal particulars and the content of communications;
2. Privacy Act 1988 - regulates how credit providers, gather, use and disclose information about an individual's credit rating and history;
3. Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 - regulates the handling of Personal Information, including the collection, use, disclosure and security of personal information via ten National Privacy Principles;
4. ACIF Calling Number Display Code - sets minimum standards for the management of Calling Number Display to ensure the privacy protection of users (Optus, 2003).

In addition, each telephone/mobile phone company adopts their own privacy policies.

Vodafone makes their policy available to the public via their Internet webpage under the heading of Your Privacy. By entering the site, customers are able to access pages of information which are segmented by the following sub-headings; What Personal Information does Vodafone collect and why?, How Vodafone may use your Personal Information, Sharing your Personal Information, Security of your Personal Information, How to access your Personal Information and How to contact us (Vodafone, 2004). It would appear that respect for the customer and their personal information is held in high regard.

In a similar fashion, Optus provides consumers with three documents to refer to regarding their privacy; namely, Optus Privacy Policy, Optus Privacy Statement and Privacy Collection Statement (Optus, 2003).

Telstra’s Internet Privacy page can be most likened to that of Vodafone’s. A number of sub-headings make the available information easy for customers to navigate through. Additional topics not covered by Vodafone, however, include Calling Number Display, Integrated Public Number Database and Help us to ensure that we have accurate personal information (Telstra, 2004).

Undoubtedly, Vodafone, Optus and Telstra ensure the privacy of their customers via the required amendments and acts. The obtaining and retention of personal information is of the utmost concern for the public and the companies alike.

Related Topics in the Wiki

Privacy and New Technologies-Government regulations

List of References

Optus. 2003. ‘Key compliance tasks - Privacy', http://www.optus.com.au/Vign/ViewMgmt/display/0,2627,1031_33088-3_33270--View_303,00.html (accessed 05/09/04).

Telstra. 2004. ‘Telstra Privacy Policy’, http://www.telstra.com.au/privacy/index.htm/ (accessed 05/09/04).

Vodafone. 2004. ‘Your Privacy’, http://www.vodafone.com.au/rep/about/legal/privacy_policy.jsp?gs=foryou&hd=about_vodafone&st=legal&ss=privacy_policy/ (accessed 05/09/04).

Back to Mobile Phones - Security and Privacy

Rebecca Praden 11:23, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)