Submission responding to the Australian Attorney-General’s Department’s Issues Paper – Review of the Privacy Act 1988

IGEA has made a submission to the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department’s consultation on an Issues Paper released as part of its review of the Privacy Act 1988.

As a digital industry, the video games sector is an important stakeholder to this review and our submission highlights the importance of the current and any future privacy framework being one that provides clarity to our members and is reasonable, practical and easy for them to navigate. Our submission articulates our call for adaptable and balanced data regulation that supports, rather than impedes, our industry’s longstanding commitment to responsible data management that allows video game companies to use data in innovative ways to make better games and experiences for players while still prioritising privacy. To achieve this, where appropriate we favour flexible expectations rather than rigid and prescriptive requirements that may lose relevance over time.

Our submission is in two parts. The first part provides background on our industry, how and why video game companies collect and use data, and how that data is protected. We also provide more information about the direction of reform that we would support. The second part provides detailed responses to specific relevant questions asked by the Issues Paper.