Did you think Ashley Madison was a big deal? Most of us know the story - a group of people who were looking online for affairs got outed because hackers took the database and dumped it online for everyone to see.

We are delighted that one of our team leaders has been recognised for being a leading mediator. Riki Jamieson-Smyth was recently honoured by her peers for her highly effective work as a dispute resolution practitioner.

A complainant seeking $100,000 in damages for Westpac’s disclosure of a debit card statement to his employer has had his case dismissed by the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Our regular series of Technology & Privacy Forums have been run by this Office for over a decade. The Forums have featured a diversity of voices discussing issues involving technological changes and how they intersect with the protection of people’s personal information.

It might sound strange but complaints are the lifeblood of our office. We receive them, vet them and investigate them. And because we are the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, people need to have absolute confidence in the security of our complaints process.

Like many I woke last Thursday to the horrific news of the live on air execution of a US journalist and her cameraman, and subsequent suicide of their disgruntled former colleague. The killings were captured on digital video and broadcast first by the victims, and then by the shooter, who uploaded his “first person” footage to social media before taking his own life.