Right to Know Day 2019: FOI tips for agencies
As we celebrate Right to Know Day 2019, it is important to remember that the right to access government held information is essential for transparency and accountability, and strengthens trust in government. Access to government information also promotes and facilitates…
FOI Professional Standards: FAQs
The Professional Standards (the Standards) were developed under Part IB of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (the Act) and, as a legislative instrument, in accordance with the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 (Vic). On Wednesday 11…
Closer to the Machine: Technical, social and legal aspects of AI
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has made amazing advancements in recent years. What was once science fiction is now becoming reality. Everything from restaurant recommendations to dental diagnoses are increasingly being powered by AI. But alongside the many benefits…
Event recap: Information Access Series – sections 34(1) and 34(4) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982
On Monday 29 July 2019, OVIC explored sections 34(1) and 34(4) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act), as part of our Information Access seminars. Sections 34(1) and 34(4) Sections 34(1) and 34(4) of the FOI Act…
Myki incident- lessons for organisations
By Annan Boag, Assistant Commissioner, Privacy and Assurance OVIC has published an investigation report about the disclosure of myki travel information by Public Transport Victoria (PTV), now part of the Department of Transport. In this blog post, I summarise some…
Myki incident- FAQs for the public
OVIC has published an investigation report about the release of individuals’ public transport data. This blog post contains some frequently asked questions for members of the community who may be concerned about this incident. Why does government collect data about…
Event recap: Information Access Series – Fresh decisions and amendment of personal records under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
On Wednesday 26 June 2019 OVIC staff explored two processes under the FOI Act: making a fresh decision and amending personal records, as part of the Information Access seminar series. Making a fresh decision under section 49M of the FOI…
Flying clocks and draining batteries: Two very different methods your phone can use to find your location (Part 2)
Battery Status This article was written by Asher Gibson, Policy Officer. Did you know that it’s possible to determine information about your location just by looking at your phone’s battery usage? The good news is that this technique, which researchers…
Flying clocks and draining batteries: Two very different methods your phone can use to find your location (Part 1)
The Global Positioning System This article was written by Asher Gibson, Policy Officer. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is made up of around 30 clocks, drifting through space, telling everyone what time it is. They do this by constantly blasting…
Event Recap: Privacy governance public forum
On 16 May 2019, as part of Privacy Awareness Week 2019, OVIC hosted a public forum which looked at privacy governance. The forum explored what good privacy governance means in the context of public sector organisations of different sizes and…