Australia increases personal data sharing

CANBERRA, Australia, July 23 (UPI) -- Privacy advocates in Australia are warning of an unprecedented governmental sharing of personal information on millions of people.

The personal data are being shared between government departments under dramatic extensions of a little-known "data matching" law, The Australian reported Saturday.

A spokesman for the Australian Privacy Foundation says governmental sharing of personal information is inherently contrary to the privacy principle. He told the newspaper such information should only be used for the purpose it was collected.

Australian federal agencies are reportedly increasing the cross-matching of personal data in investigations of such crimes as identity theft, welfare fraud, tax evasion and terrorism.

Opponents of the information sharing told The Australian the depth of personal information held by the federal government has reached extraordinary levels, with the Australian Tax Office keeping records of such details as people's religious affiliation and criminal convictions.