AMSRO Promotes Trust Mark as Australian Law Changes

Australia professional body The Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) has launched an online directory for providers certified with its Trust Mark, following major revisions to data breach legislation in the country's Privacy Act.

Last week the Act was amended with the addition of a Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, requiring private and public entities with an annual turnover of $AUD 3m or more to notify individuals likely to be at risk of 'serious harm' by a data breach. The change aims to improve transparency in reporting procedures and reinforce privacy obligations for companies working with personal information, with fines of up to $AUD 1.7m now possible for a privacy breach. The country's biggest such event was when the records of 550,000 donors to its Red Cross Blood Service were exposed in 2016.

AMSRO President Craig Young says of the launch 'Data breaches are now happening on a daily basis around the world, and it's incumbent on our industry to continue to provide the highest level of protection to companies using research services and, in turn, to consumers. The AMSRO Trust Mark is a seal of endorsement and assures business and government organisations they are buying research that is quality-tested and meets not only ethical standards but also goes over and above minimal privacy legislation. As managers or owners of research businesses we also need to minimise our own corporate risk'. AMSRO Executive Director Sarah Campbell underlines the sector's excellent record to date: 'The fact that we have a 14-year record without a single privacy breach upheld demonstrates the success of AMSRO in protecting the industry'.

AMSRO first launched the Trust Mark in 2014, to coincide with the introduction of the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the redevelopment of its own Privacy Code. Qualifying companies must operate under AMSRO's Privacy (Market and Social Research) Code, which is adjudicated by the Australian Information Commissioner; must comply with the International Standard for Market, Opinion and Social Research certification (ISO 20252 or ISO 26363); and must abide by the Industry Code of Professional Behaviour.

AMSRO was established in 1989, and has more than 90 members employing over 5,000 people and representing 75% of the industry's total employment.

The new directory is available at www.amsro.com.au/directory .