Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 17 NOVEMBER 2015

Australia Introduces New Telecommunications Data Retention Laws

Jones Day
Jones Day
Contributor
Jones Day

Jones Day

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents....

View firm profile
Explore more from Jones Day

Telecommunications service providers in Australia must now collect and retain telecommunications data for a period of two years under recent amendments to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth).

AustraliaPrivacy
Adam Salter
Adam Salter
Nicola Walker
Nicola Walker
Author LinkedIn connections

Telecommunications service providers in Australia must now collect and retain telecommunications data for a period of two years under recent amendments to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth) ("Act"). The new laws apply to service providers, including internet service providers, carriage service providers and holders of a carrier licence that own or operate infrastructure in Australia. Service providers who are unable to comply with the new laws may apply for approval of a "data retention implementation plan" outlining the service provider's current practices for keeping and ensuring confidentiality of information and interim arrangements prior to full compliance with the Act (for a period of 18 months from 13 October 2015). Service providers that do not comply with their data retention obligations may face pecuniary penalties of up to AUD250,000 payable by a body corporate for each contravention of the Act.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Privacy Reform In Australia: What Businesses Need To Know In 2026-2027 (Part 2)

The Australian Government has released the Exposure Draft Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026, proposing the most significant overhaul of privacy law in years. These reforms would fundamentally change how Australian businesses handle personal information, introducing a new "fair and reasonable" test, stronger consent requirements, expanded definitions of personal information, and new rules for AI and emerging technologies.
AustraliaPrivacy
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Article

Digital Duty Of Care: What Australian Businesses Need To Know

The Australian Government's proposed digital duty of care reforms would extend online safety obligations far beyond social media platforms to encompass any business operating websites, digital platforms, or AI-enabled tools. Rather than simply responding to complaints, businesses would need to proactively identify foreseeable risks and implement safeguards, with substantial penalties for non-compliance reaching up to $109.2 million for companies. The exposure draft introduces a fundamental shift from reacti
AustraliaPrivacy
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich
Article

Transparency In Automated Decision-Making: What The OAIC Guidance Means For Your Business

Australia's privacy regulator has issued final guidance on new transparency obligations for automated decision-making systems. From December 2026, organisations using computer programs—including AI, algorithms, and everyday software—to make or inform significant decisions about individuals must disclose these practices in their privacy policies. The guidance reveals a broader compliance burden than many expect, particularly for businesses using automated tools across recruitment, pricing, credit
AustraliaPrivacy
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Article

Australia’s Privacy Act Reforms: Fundamental Changes Proposed In New Exposure Draft

Australia's Privacy Act reform has reached a critical milestone with the release of exposure draft legislation proposing fundamental changes to how organisations handle personal information. The reforms introduce a new 'fair and reasonable' test for data collection and use, a right of erasure for large digital platforms, strengthened consent standards, a statutory controller/processor framework, restrictions on trading personal data, and enhanced data breach obligations. These changes come at a time when em
AustraliaPrivacy
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Article

Privacy Reform In Australia: What Businesses Need To Know In 2026-2027

Australia's privacy laws are undergoing significant reform, with new automated decision-making transparency requirements commencing in December 2026 and further substantial changes under consideration. Businesses must prepare for enhanced regulatory scrutiny, increased litigation risk through the new statutory tort for serious privacy invasions, and potential expansion of obligations to small businesses and employee records.
AustraliaPrivacy
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Article

AI Glasses And Privacy: Are Our Laws Keeping Up?

Australia's new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy, which commenced in June 2025, is being tested against emerging AI-powered smart glasses technology that can record audio and video discreetly. As these devices become more sophisticated and less detectable, questions arise about whether current privacy laws adequately protect individuals from covert surveillance and data collection in both public and private settings.
AustraliaPrivacy
Carroll & O'Dea
Carroll & O'Dea
Article

Ninth Circuit Vacates CFAA Injunction Against Perplexity's Comet AI Agent

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a preliminary injunction against Perplexity AI, determining that when an AI agent acts at a user's direction, it is the user—not the AI company—who "accesses" computer systems under federal and California computer fraud statutes. This landmark appellate decision addresses how existing computer-access laws apply to agentic artificial intelligence and has significant implications...
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

NYSE And Nasdaq Move To 23-Hour Trading Day: Overnight Session Is An Evolution, But Not Yet A Revolution

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are implementing overnight trading sessions starting December 6, 2026, extending the trading day to nearly 23 hours by compressing the daily pause to just one hour. While this evolution toward continuous trading introduces new considerations for corporate actions, disclosure timing, and deal execution, the practical impact varies significantly between NYSE-listed companies,
United StatesFinance and Banking
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

China's Supreme Court Issues Landmark Judicial Rules On AI: Implications For Product Liability, IP, Data, And Generative AI

China's Supreme People's Court has issued comprehensive judicial rules addressing artificial intelligence disputes, establishing frameworks for product liability, intellectual property rights, and data protection. These landmark opinions provide critical guidance for global companies navigating AI-related legal risks in China's evolving regulatory landscape.
ChinaIntellectual Property
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Ninth Circuit: Breach Of Confidence Confers Standing In Health Data Security Case

The Ninth Circuit has ruled that health plan participants whose confidential information was disclosed without authorization have standing to sue in federal court, even without showing financial loss or future harm. This decision, which departs from the risk-based approach many courts have applied since TransUnion, relies on the centuries-old action for breach of confidence and could have significant implications for companies' privacy commitments and data-sharing practices.
United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

EU Commission Pushes for Transposition of the EmpCo Directive on Environmental Claims

The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against 20 EU Member States for failing to transpose the EmpCo Directive by the March 27, 2026 deadline. This directive aims to combat greenwashing by requiring substantiation of environmental claims and third-party certification for sustainability labels, with full implementation expected by September 27, 2026.
European UnionConsumer Protection
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Amendment To The General Rules Under Mexico’s Anti-Money Laundering Law (LFPIORPI): Key Regulatory Changes Under Acuerdo 115/2026

Mexico's comprehensive anti-money laundering framework has undergone a sweeping transformation through Acuerdo 115/2026, introducing mandatory risk-based methodologies, enhanced client due diligence protocols, and automated monitoring requirements. With implementation deadlines beginning March 1, 2027, obligated parties conducting vulnerable activities face compressed timelines to overhaul their compliance infrastructure while navigating heightened enforcement risks and stricter beneficial ownership thresho
MexicoGovernment, Public Sector
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Commission Proposes EU Public Procurement Act

The European Commission has proposed replacing the EU's three core procurement directives with a single, directly applicable Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how companies compete for public contracts across Member States. The reform introduces mandatory quality criteria thresholds, embeds ESG considerations as evaluation factors, and establishes new security and European-preference provisions that could restrict participation based on ownership, supply chain exposure, and strategic dependencies.
European UnionGovernment, Public Sector
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Federal Court Holds New York’s Climate Superfund Law Preempted By CAA

A federal court has struck down New York's Climate Change Superfund Act, which sought to recover $75 billion from fossil fuel companies based on historical emissions. The ruling found the Act preempted by the Clean Air Act, marking the first judicial decision on state climate superfund legislation and establishing that EPA's rescission of the endangerment finding does not alter preemption analysis.
United StatesEnvironment
Jones Day
Jones Day