What is privacy?

Types of privacy

The type of privacy covered by the Privacy Act and is the protection of people's personal information (see below).

On the other hand, this is just one type of privacy. There are other types of privacy which can include territorial privacy and physical or bodily privacy and communications privacy.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner normally handles privacy issues which are about people’s personal information. This can include privacy issues associated with information about your location, your health and body and your communications with others.

What is personal information?

Personal information is information that identifies you or might identify you. There are some clear examples of personal information, such as your name or address. Personal information can also include medical records, bank account details, photos, videos, and even information about your personal preferences, your opinions and where you job is - essentially, any information where you are plausibly identifiable.

The privacy principles apply to all the areas we service.

Information does not have to include your name to be personal information. For example, in some cases, your date of birth and post code may be enough to identify you.

To be precise, the Privacy Act definition of personal information is:

"... information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion."

What privacy is not

The protection of your personal information privacy is different to other related concepts such as Freedom of Information, confidentiality and secrecy