Enquiries and feedback

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) is the key law designed to safeguard personal information collected by Australian Government agencies. Australian Government agencies must comply with the Information Privacy Principles in section 14 of the Privacy Act when collecting, using and disclosing your personal information. More information about the Privacy Act can be obtained from the Privacy Commissioner's website (www.privacy.gov.au). All personal information collected on this site is protected by the Privacy Act.

Your Information and How We Use It

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is collecting your information in this form for the purposes of determining your eligibility for and supporting your request to access the NetAlert - Protecting Australian Families Online initiative.

Your email address and other personal information will be recorded for the purposes of you obtaining an internet content filter and associated support, including for auditing purposes. This may include using the information you provide to email or mail out information on changes to the NetAlert - Protecting Australian Families Online initiative, or in relation to patches and updates to internet content filters. If you request significant numbers of internet content filters you may be contacted to confirm that your use of the filters is consistent with the objectives of the NetAlert - Protecting Australian Families Online initiative. DBCDE may also use the information you provide for the purposes of assessing the effectiveness of the program and may contact you for this purpose. Your email address will not be added to any other mailing lists unless you ask us to do so.

Information collected may also be provided to third party filter vendors involved in the NetAlert - Protecting Australian Families Online initiative for these purposes. A list of these organisations is available by contacting DBCDE.

Except where it is necessary for the performance of our functions and is authorised or required by law, or with your consent, we will not use your personal information for any other purpose or disclose it to any other person.

Filter vendors may also request your email address and other information when you download or install an internet content filter. Filter vendors are also bound by the Privacy Act. If you have any questions in relation to this process, further information may be obtained by contacting DBCDE.

Automated Data Collection

• DBCDE will not attempt to identify users or their browsing activities from this data except, in the unlikely event of an audit or investigation, where another Australian Government agency or a law enforcement agency may exercise its authority or powers to inspect the internet service provider's logs.

  Data that in some way identifies the user is gathered during interactions with the web site in the following circumstances:

• Computer Information

  It is a necessary part of visiting any website, including this site, that the user's web browser provides the machine's identity (its IP-address) to the web-server, so that the server can address the reply to the correct machine. In addition, the browser type and operating system are provided.

• Navigation and Click-Stream Data

  Browsing any website, including this site, generates a trail of the pages that are visited, and the time apparently spent displaying each page.

• Data Storage, Use and Disclosure, and Retention

  All personal data described in the preceding section is stored in transmission logs, and archived for a period that is yet to be determined but is likely to be at least 12 months and quite probably 7 years.

  The data is used by site software, and by staff involved in the DBCDE operation, only for:

  • website and system administration, including monitoring to prevent security breaches;
  • customisation of the web site to the user's needs; and
  • evaluation, research and development

  Identified data can only be re-disclosed to the user if the user provides the unique request session number. Identified data may be disclosed to a third party only in circumstances in which it is legally authorised, such as in the investigation of a criminal offence, and in compliance with a search warrant or subpoena.

Security

You should be aware that information transmitted over the internet is not entirely secure. In particular, when you send us an email, or submit feedback using our feedback form, the content as it is transferred across the internet may not be secure and may be subject to access by third parties. DBCDE has taken measures to protect the security of your information but can not guarantee that it will not be accessed or used by other third parties.

You should contact DBCDE immediately if you have any concerns about the security of information that you have provided. For further information on the security measures please contact DBCDE.

User Feedback

We seek feedback from our users in order to improve the service offered by this site. Answering feedback questions is voluntary and does not in any way affect your access to this site. DBCDE will not disclose this feedback to any third party, other than as required by law.

Access and Further Information

Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to access and correct any personal information held about you by DBCDE or its contractors. To access your personal information held by DBCDE, or to contact DBCDE in respect of any issues raised in this privacy statement call 1800 880 176 (8am -10pm in your local time zone, for callers in Australia only. Free call for landline calls, usual charges apply to mobiles and payphones.)