ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 analyses the impacts of big data on privacy. Given the way big data and new technologies are shifting global norms on privacy, this chapter shows there is also a perception in Australia that there is a need to rethink the privacy principles underpinning privacy laws as a result. First, this chapter argues that the changing global – and Australian – privacy norms hold future implications for the intelligence community. Second, this chapter shows how privacy is temporal and the impact of ‘anonymisation’ and aggregation of data. It specifically considers how the abundance of data and the capacity to identify, link and use data quickly now allows for privacy intrusion remote from the individual, in less visible ways and at any point in the future. It also considers how this is complicated by the variety of data collectors, sellers and users involved. Lastly, this chapter explores the direct impacts of big data on privacy in intelligence agencies, which are currently limited, and predominantly dependent on an agency’s role and legislative mandate. Big data is changing how those agencies with a legislative requirement to determine whether data relates to an Australian individual collect, store and analyse data.
