Ideas for a ‘Privacy Corner’ in The Forums

Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:16
Last edited 16/05/2022 - 13:17 by 1 other user

I’m sure many of you have received a privacy policy update email from a merchant/dealbroker recently, probably due to a merger, acquisition, or hangs in business direction.

It almost certainly told you to check out all the exciting ways that they’re making the service more relevant to you via a link to… the privacy policy.

Catch did this to me this morning, and I don’t really want to pick apart the minutiae of legalese that their new owners (Wesfarmers) have foisted on them as a way to collect more customer data.

The value of customer data is incredibly understated, but the discussion is almost wholly centred around US and EU regulations, and the topic draws more than it’s fair share of both apologists and outrage olympians, so it's hard to get a balanced view.

As Australia’s foremost amateur consumer advocacy group standing committee [1], I’d like to propose a ‘Privacy Corner’ on OzB.

The objectives would be fairly straightforward:

  • Promote understanding of the impact to consumers of various changes and language.

The structure would include:

  • Posts related to a specific company that actually has business in Australia, or is at least relevant to Australian public

  • Discussions around domestic and international regulatory changes

  • Post updates to privacy polices

The structure of posts would include:

  • Verified updates would be tagged with the company’s name

  • Company-specific posts would need to include a link to the PP, and a link to the forum post could be referenced in each deal.

  • A link to the change in Privacy Policy using Diffchecker

That last point addresses my initial rant about the link 'outlining the changes' actually just being a link to the current one. I'll demonstrate n example post in the first reply below.

[1] Let's face it: Choice is the best place for this, but my login expired months ago. The comments section at OzB usually comes up with some great advice and the trolls tend to get weeded out fairly quickly.

Site Discussion

Comments

  • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:26
    +4

    Example post:

    Updated Catch Privacy Policy

    Received an email about Catch's updated privacy policy today.

    Current PP: https://www.catch.com.au/privacy
    Previous PP (25/11/22): https://web.archive.org/web/20220407132000/https://www.catch…

    Diffchecker link: https://www.diffchecker.com/zkiNYFgy

    Privacy Policy Update
    At Catch, privacy is just as important to us as it is to you. That’s why we are letting you know about some updates to our Privacy Policy that will change how we handle personal information to improve your shopping experience with us.

    The changes explain Catch’s relationship with the enhanced OnePass membership program, now operated by one of our related Wesfarmers companies, and how we will be collecting, sharing and combining your personal information with the operator of OnePass and the other participating brands to provide you with the most relevant communications, content and offers.

    You can read our updated Privacy Policy here. The changes to our policy apply from Sunday 15 May, 2022.

    We want to thank you for shopping with us at Catch, and we look forward to continuing to provide you the best shopping experience possible.

    • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:29

      Hurr-durr [I'm outraged | this seems fairly benign | I'm a bird lawyer and this is illegal]

    • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:34

      The new updated PP includes reference to the broader ecosystem of OnePass companies, the inclusion of your OnePass data as a 'personal information' the fact that this information would be shared with other partners in the scheme.

      They also added this line, which is actually helpful:

      To request to have your personal information deleted from Catch, please contact us at [email protected]

  • Muzeeb on 16/05/2022 - 13:36
    +3

    Is this a record?

    Start the thread and also contribute the first three replies.

    Edit: and add the first negative vote.

    The comments section at OzB usually comes up with some great advice and the trolls tend to get weeded out fairly quickly.

    My experience is quite the opposite.

    • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:51
      +1

      Haha I should have created some fake troll accounts to truly simulate some of the astroturfing that I'd expect here.

      Trolling is much better here than it used to be, and the display threshold tends to do its job pretty well. There's only one user here who consistently tries to rustle some jimmies, and I instinctively just move to the next comment.

      At any rate, ignore my flippant footnote - consider the proposal instead.

  • brokenglish on 16/05/2022 - 13:53
    +1

    People are here for the bargains.
    Let’s face it, even if Catch made absurd changes to the Privacy Policy, we will still buy their bargains if any.

    • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 13:54

      That's true, but people clearly care about the integrity of sellers as well.

      • brokenglish on 16/05/2022 - 14:00

        Collecting customer data does not mean sellers do not have integrity.
        Comparing their previous Privacy Policy and current Privacy Policy is already flawed.
        1. They can change this at any time.
        2. They only put out what they want you to know.
        3. Just because they publish those policy, does not mean they actually follow it.

        • brisdaz on 16/05/2022 - 14:24

          Yes that's why it's also good to see third party trustmarks to show auditing like TrustArc.

          Organizations can't change privacy policies instantly despite what they say as law trumps it.

        • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 15:09

          Exactly!

          That’s why this section would be valuable - to educate people if the changes and hopefully build some literacy around it.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2022 - 14:11
      +5

      we will still buy their bargains if any

      I'm wary of companies that seem like they cannot be trusted to manage my personal information professionally.

      For example, in our beloved bargain hunting domain, Catch of the Day earned "dead to me" status in 2014 after their data breach, and Shopback joined them in 2020. Neither company can make a sufficiently compelling offer to me for me to want to deal with them ever again.

      • brokenglish on 16/05/2022 - 14:14
        +1

        I have the same sentiment.
        Thing is people don’t really care.
        Just look at any recent ShopBack and Catch deals.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2022 - 14:30

          I've simply given-up trying to warn people for the most part. I'm not wasting more time/energy on people who won't help themselves.

  • brisdaz on 16/05/2022 - 13:56

    Yeah Choice does have a Digital Privacy section.

    I think Ozbargain would have more traffic though but Choice may have higher quality users……

  • spackbace on 16/05/2022 - 14:34
    +2

    Congrats, you just made a section - this post

    • Bedgrub on 16/05/2022 - 15:11

      Pioneering trailblazer :)

  • FLICKIT on 16/05/2022 - 23:06

    I complained to Supercheap when they updated their Privacy policy a few years ago, they happily deleted my account on SCA, BCF, and all their other Super-Group outlets, with no communication…

    Some samples from their Privacy Policy:

    3. What type of personal information do we collect?
    We collect information about you directly and from other parties, as well as automatically though your use of our Sites (and other instances where we interact)

    6. How do we use your personal information?
    6.2 Direct marketing
    6.3 Analytics and display advertising
    6.5 Overseas disclosure of your personal information
    it is likely that your personal information will be sent to the following countries: China, Germany, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States. We may also disclose your personal information internally within our related companies located in Australia, China, and New Zealand.

    https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/customer-service/privacy-p…

  • Bedgrub on 17/05/2022 - 00:13

    The ‘sent to’ bit might relate to their cloud services or support arrangements - if that’s the case, then they can’t provide services to you without sending your data to those locations. The distinction is that you can ‘send’ PII overseas and have it processed there, but you can’t ‘disclose’ it to third parties, or let them ‘use’ it without your consent.

    They have however stated that they will disclose it within the company.

    Like Bunnings, their business model heavily relies on overseas sourcing and shipping (it’s the only way to stock thousands of half-empty cans of degreaser in every one of their stores), but I’m surprised they’d be unable to divorce the PII from those logistics hubs.

    Or not. I’m not a lawyer, but my work frequently intersects with privacy.

    https://www.superretailgroup.com.au/about-us/our-geography/

  • notabank on 17/05/2022 - 21:57
    +1

    Levity's alt?

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