Privacy
ADVERTISING STANDARDS BOARD
PRIVACY POLICY
This policy sets out the information-handling practices and procedures of the Advertising Standards Board ("Standards Board").
Main function:The Standards Board considers complaints which raise concerns about the use of language, discriminatory portrayal of people, alarm or distress to children, portrayals of violence, sex, sexuality and nudity and health and safety. The Standards Board also measures community attitudes and concerns about advertising by commissioning independent research. The results of this research greatly assist the Standards Board in carrying out its main function.
Collection of information: In order for the Standards Board to discharge its functions effectively, it collects personal information (for example, names and addresses) from complainants. If a complainant does not provide basic personal information, the Standards Board is not obliged to receive and consider that complaint.
Information referred to advertiser: When complaints are submitted to the Board for determination or information, letters of complaint from individuals are provided to the advertiser the subject of the complaint and to all members of the Standards Board.
Information available to researchers: Letters of complaint (which will include the personal information of complainants) are also made available from time to time to researchers from reputable Australian universities and research institutions. Such research, whether undertaken on behalf of the Standards Board and Bureau or for the purposes of the institution concerned, provides information regarding community attitudes and concerns about advertising. Researchers accessing ASB files are under an obligation to keep the personal information of complainants strictly confidential and secure. Further, any report prepared by the researcher will not contain personal details of complainants.
Information referred to Commercial Television Australia or ACCC: Where the Standards Board dismisses a complaint, the Standards Board may, with the complainant's consent, refer the complaint to another appropriate body - such as the Commercial Television Australia or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for consideration.
Information referred to the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Management Committee and the ABAC Complaints Adjudication Panel: Advertisements about alcohol products may fall within the ambit of either the Australian Association of National Advertisers' Code of Ethics (AANA Code) or the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC), or both. For this reason, copies of all complaints about alcohol advertisements, including personal details, are provided to the ABAC Management Committee and the ABAC Complaints Adjudication Panel.
The Advertising Standards Board deals as appropriate with those complaints which raise issues covered by the AANA Code.
Independent Service Providers: The Standards Board regularly contracts with independent service providers (eg telecommunications and computer database design services) who may, in the course of providing their respective services, have access to the personal information of complainants.
The Standards Board has taken steps to ensure that each of their service providers are aware of their obligations under the National Privacy Principles and are under an obligation to keep any personal information they may have access to confidential and secure.
Records management and disposal: The paper and electronic records held by the Standards Board are stored securely. The premises are accessible only via key entry and, accordingly, only by staff of the Advertising Standards Bureau.
Records are either archived in secure premises or destroyed in a secure manner.
Complainant access to their own information: Generally speaking, complainants may access and update their personal information at any time. If complainants wish to do so, they should send a letter to the Privacy Officer. The Standards Board will always try to maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date information regarding complainants. If persons think their personal information may require changing or updating, they should contact the Privacy Officer.
Privacy complaints: Persons who have a complaint should address a written complaint to the Privacy Officer.
How to contact the Standards Board: The Privacy Officer can be contacted at the Advertising Standards Bureau Limited, Level 2, 97 Northbourne Avenue, Turner ACT 2612. The telephone number is (02) 6262 9822.
ADVERTISING CLAIMS BOARD
PRIVACY POLICY
This policy sets out the information-handling practices and procedures of the Advertising Claims Board ("Claims Board").
Main Function: The main function of the Claims Board is to address and resolve disputes concerning the truth, accuracy and legality of advertisements.
Collection of Information: The Claims Board collects information from individual complainants (for example, name and address). Without this information, the Claims Board is not obliged to receive and consider complaints. In circumstances where individuals have lodged the initial complaint against advertisers, some of the information collected will include personal information (for example, name and address).
Complaints and responses referred to Panel members: Panels drawn from the legal and advertising professions carry out the work of the Claims Board.
Complaints will be referred to the Panel members (and prospective members) who may determine the complaint.
Information referred to the advertiser: Letters of complaint, together with any attachments, are notified to the advertiser the subject of the complaint.
Information referred to the complainant: Advertiser responses to the complaint, together with any attachments, are notified to the complainant.
Distribution of final case report to public, appropriate government agencies and media proprietors: Following determination of complaints, the Claims Board may distribute the final case report to the public, appropriate government agencies and media. If the complainant is an individual, consent is sought to their personal information being disclosed to the parties listed above. In the event this consent is not granted, the distributed material will exclude reference to any personal information.
Independent Service Providers: The Claims Board regularly contracts with independent service providers (eg telecommunications and computer database design services) who may, in the course of providing their respective services, have access to the personal information of complainants..
The Claims Board has taken steps to ensure that each of their service providers are aware of their obligations under the National Privacy Principles and are under an obligation to keep any personal information they may have access to confidential and secure.
Records management and disposal: The paper and electronic records held by the Claims Board are stored securely. The premises are accessible only via key entry and, accordingly, only by staff of the Advertising Standards Bureau and the Australian Association of National Advertisers. Records are either archived in secure premises or destroyed in a secure manner.
Complainant access to their own information: Generally speaking, complainants may access and update their personal information at any time. If complainants wish to do so, they should send a letter to the Privacy Officer. The Claims Board will always try to maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date information regarding complainants. If persons think their personal information may require changing or updating, they should contact the Privacy Officer.
Privacy complaints: Persons who have a complaint regarding the way their personal information is handled by the Claims Board should address a written complaint to the Privacy Officer.
How to contact the Claims Board: The Privacy Officer can be contacted at the Advertising Standards Bureau Limited, Level 2, 97 Northbourne Avenue, Turner ACT 2612. The telephone number is (026) 262 9822.