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Two Australian regulators open investigations into Optus after data breach

Two Australian regulators open investigations into Optus after data breach

[html]SYDNEY (Reuters) – Two Australian regulators said on Tuesday they have opened investigations into Optus, the country’s No. 2 teleco*s provider, after…
                              

SYDNEY (Reuters) –     Two Australian regulators said on Tuesday they have opened investigations into Optus, the country’s No. 2 teleco*s provider, after a breach of its systems resulted in the theft of personal data from up to 10 million accounts.


The probes only add to headaches for Optus, which disclosed the breach on Sept. 22 and has since co*e under heavy fire from the government and the public for not preventing the massive cyberattack.


The Office of the Australian Information co*missioner (OAIC) said it was investigating whether the Singapore Teleco*munications Ltd-owned co*pany took reasonable steps to protect customer data and co*ply with privacy laws.


The Australian co*munications and Media Authority (ACMA) said it was investigating whether Optus met its industry obligations as a teleco*munications provider in terms of the keeping and disposing of personal data.


Amid the widening fallout, the federal government has flagged it will overhaul data security laws to force firms which have had a cyberattack to notify banks about customers who may be co*promised. Several law firms are also considering filing class action lawsuits.


The OAIC said in a statement if it finds that “interference with the privacy of one or more individuals has occurred”, it may force Optus to take steps to ensure the breach cannot be repeated.


The agency added that it finds there was a breach of Australian privacy law, it can seek civil penalties of up to A$2.2 million ($1.4 million) per contravention.


ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said in a statement that failure by teleco*munications providers to safeguard customer information “has significant consequences for all involved”.


Australian co*petition and Consumer co*mission Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb told a parliamentary hearing the regulator was receiving 600 calls a day from people concerned about the Optus breach, although few had been scammed as a result.


($1 = 1.5881 Australian dollars)



(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)


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