Data breaches jumped 25 percent last year, with the largest number recorded since mandatory reporting requirements were put in place.
Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said the record number of data breaches in 2024 highlighted the significant threats facing Australians’ privacy.
Ms Kind said businesses and government agencies reported more than 1100 data breaches to the regulator and the public last year.
She said this was the highest annual total since mandatory data breach notification requirements started in 2018.
“The trends we are observing suggest the threat of data breaches, especially through the efforts of malicious actors, is unlikely to diminish, and the risks to Australians are only likely to increase.”
Ms Kind said new statistics for July to December 2024 showed the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner was notified of 595 data breaches, ending the year with a total 1113 notifications.
“This is a 25 percent increase from 893 notifications in 2023.”
She said businesses and government agencies needed to step up privacy and security measures.
“Australians trust businesses and government agencies with their personal information and expect it to be treated with care and kept secure.”
Ms Kind said malicious and criminal attacks had been the main source of breaches since the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme commenced, accounting for 69 percent of notifications in the second half of the year, with 61 percent of those being cyber security incidents.
