Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim says that better media controls need to be built into the Privacy Act, reports The Australian. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) receives few complaints about the media; however, Pilgrim says, "In the context of so much activity by non-professionals, it has become more difficult to define journalism for the purposes of regulation." The Australian Law Reform Commission has suggested including a "definition of journalism and news organisations to comply with standards that deal adequately with privacy issues," the report states. Pilgrim agrees, adding that the OAIC would support regulation that offered guidance on handling personal information and proper methods of information gathering, among other areas. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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