Real estate agents under the microscope in Australian-first privacy ‘compliance sweep’

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is conducting its first “compliance sweep” targeting various businesses, including real estate agencies, car dealerships, pubs, and bars, to ensure they adhere to privacy regulations. The sweep will focus on practices such as collecting personal data, including phone numbers at open houses and scanning IDs for entry, with potential fines of up to $66,000 for non-compliance. Other targeted businesses include chemists, pharmacists, pawnshops, secondhand dealers, and car rental companies.