People 'ambivalent' about privacy laws

A major review of Australia's privacy laws has found people's views on the issue are changing.

The Australian Law Reform Commission is conducting the review because of rapid technological advances.

The commission says some people are concerned by 'Big Brother' style surveillance and advances in technology, but others find there are too many obstacles in accessing information.

The commission's president, Professor David Weisbrot, says he is hoping to get a clearer understanding of attitudes to privacy in different situations.

"People are ambivalent so in the same conversation, people will say how they're nervous about Big Brother and all of their information being gathered by public agencies or by private enterprise," he said.

"And in the next, they'll talk about how an area that's a bit dangerous might need surveillance cameras.

"On the one hand they love to use their own computers and to shop on the Internet, but they're also concerned about all the information that's being collected about them, both by government and by private industry."

He also says there is a generational gap, with people over the age of 40 more nervous about the implications of new technology.

"Younger people seem to be quite happy to post pictures, stories, all kinds of intimate information about themselves on the Internet," he said.

The commission is seeking public feedback and industry submissions before handing its findings to the Government in 2008.