ACCAN

Jun 19

📢 It's Privacy Awareness Week! Our personal information encapsulates who we are. As consumers, we deserve transparency and strong safeguards around how our data is collected and used. But we also need to be prepared. This week reminds us to check in on our privacy habits, whether it's in our ev...Read more

📢 It's Privacy Awareness Week! Our personal information encapsulates who we are. As consumers, we deserve transparency and strong safeguards around how our data is collected and used. But we also need to be prepared. This week reminds us to check in on our privacy habits, whether it's in our everyday lives or in the workplace. In honour of this year's theme 'privacy - it's everyone's business', the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has launched a new Privacy Foundations self-assessment tool to help businesses improve their privacy practices. ACCAN is advocating to protect your privacy - read our latest submission on privacy released this afternoon: https://buff.ly/o1Ojk9f #PAW2025 #PrivacyAwarenessWeek #privacy #dataprivacy #privacymatters

Jun 19

Yesterday, ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett spoke to SBS News on 6PR Perth about what she described as appalling and unforgivable conduct by Optus. According to Bennett, the company deliberately targeted some of Australia’s most vulnerable consumers — selling devices, plans and accessories they couldn’t use...Read more

Yesterday, ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett spoke to SBS News on 6PR Perth about what she described as appalling and unforgivable conduct by Optus. According to Bennett, the company deliberately targeted some of Australia’s most vulnerable consumers — selling devices, plans and accessories they couldn’t use or afford — in a calculated effort to boost profits. The end result, she said, was lasting harm to people’s lives. Clearly we need stronger and enforceable regulation to prevent this kind of exploitation from happening again. 🎧 Listen to the full interview: https://buff.ly/pTjaBp4

Jun 18

ACCAN welcomes this morning’s news that Optus will pay a $100 million fine – one of the largest in Australian consumer law history – for unconscionable conduct toward vulnerable customers. Optus has admitted to the shocking conduct. "Unconscionable conduct is a high bar and Optus has spectacularly ...Read more

ACCAN welcomes this morning’s news that Optus will pay a $100 million fine – one of the largest in Australian consumer law history – for unconscionable conduct toward vulnerable customers. Optus has admitted to the shocking conduct. "Unconscionable conduct is a high bar and Optus has spectacularly surpassed it," says ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett. Among those targeted include First Nations people, people with intellectual disabilities and those experiencing financial hardship. Whilst the ACCC's action is welcome, the industry regulator ACMA must now step up. ACCAN and 22 other consumer groups are calling for urgent reform through The Fair Call campaign - calling on ACMA to overhaul the industry-led TCP Code in favour of strong, enforceable consumer protections. 👉 Read our media release: https://accan.org.au/media-centre/media-releases/2447-optus-unconscionable-sales-june-2025

Jun 16

For years, ACCAN has called for stronger telco protections for people affected by domestic and family violence — and now, real change is happening. The Minister for Communications TAG:Anika Wells has announced that new rules will come into effect, from 1 July, that hold telcos to account for how t...Read more

For years, ACCAN has called for stronger telco protections for people affected by domestic and family violence — and now, real change is happening. The Minister for Communications TAG:Anika Wells has announced that new rules will come into effect, from 1 July, that hold telcos to account for how they support customers experiencing DFV. Here’s what we asked for — and what’s being delivered: ✅ Trauma-informed staff training ✅ Tailored support measures ✅ A ban on requiring contact with perpetrators ✅ Stronger privacy & account security ✅ Clear info on available support ✅ Tougher compliance & enforcement by ACMA 📄 Read our full submission for the complete list of recommendations: https://accan.org.au/accans-work/submissions/2421-supporting-telco-customers-experiencing-domestic-family-and-sexual-violence #domesticviolence #domesticviolenceawareness #domesticabuse #consumerprotection #advocacy #auspol

Jun 12

❌ No telco app or website fully supports blind or low vision consumers to cancel their mobile service. The @centreforaccessibility tested 44 apps and sites—finding that cancellation is still especially tough for people with accessibility needs. ✅ Some providers did better than others—but there’s r...Read more

❌ No telco app or website fully supports blind or low vision consumers to cancel their mobile service. The @centreforaccessibility tested 44 apps and sites—finding that cancellation is still especially tough for people with accessibility needs. ✅ Some providers did better than others—but there’s room for improvement across the board. Through our Independent Grants Program, ACCAN is proud to support the work of the CFAA who have been training telcos on practical steps to make their apps and sites more accessible. 📖 Read more about the project: https://buff.ly/X60Pi6Z #accan #digitalinclusion #accessibility #accessibilityforall #accessibilitymatters #techforgood #disability