Protecting Information Rights – Advancing Information Policy

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We're now a part of the Office of the Information Commissioner. Go to www.oaic.gov.au to find out more.

Site Changes

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). An interim website for the OAIC is available at www.oaic.gov.au. This site (privacy.gov.au), which only contains information related to the OAIC's privacy function, will be maintained until a combined site is established.
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Is ID scanning legal under the Privacy Act?

Not in all cases.

If a business covered by the Privacy Act complies with all its legal requirements, then yes scanning your ID should be legal under the Act.

However, if that business doesn't comply with the Privacy Act, then scanning your ID could be illegal.

Example

  • If a business scans your ID when it doesn't need to collect that information to perform its functions, the scanning will be illegal.
  • If simply sighting your ID would be sufficient, the business should not scan it.

This answer is a summary only.

For more details, see our ID scanning information sheets:

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