Seven Media Group Privacy Policy
About this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy has been published to provide a clear and concise outline of how and when personal information is collected, disclosed, used, stored and otherwise handled by Seven Media Group and its related companies ("Group"). The Policy relates to personal information collected by any means and by any technology.
The Group treats the handling of your personal information very seriously. To that end, the Group has systems and procedures in place to protect your privacy in relation to the handling of your personal information.
The Group abides by the National Privacy Principles, which provide a scheme in relation to the collection, disclosure, use and storage of personal information. The Group's objective is to handle information responsibly and provide you with some control over the way information about you is handled.
The Privacy Act provides for exemptions:
a. in relation to employee records (being records relating to a current or former employment relationship between the Group and the individual); and
b. from coverage in relation to the journalism activities of the Group.
See sections 3 and 4 for more information about these exemptions.
1. Collection of Personal Information
Personal information is information or opinion from which an individual's identity may be ascertained. The nature of personal information collected by the Group generally comprises an individual's name and contact details (including address, IP address, phone, fax and e-mail). The primary purpose for collecting such information is to arrange, conduct and promote the Group's media activities (including but not limited to production, broadcasting and publishing) and provide you with requested products and services.
The Group may collect personal information from you in a number of ways. These include, but are not limited to situations in which you request or receive products or services from the Group, provide products or services to the Group, enter a competition or similar event, utilise the Group's services (including, but not limited to our websites, blogs and online forums), complete a survey or questionnaire, or when you communicate with the Group by telephone, fax, writing, email, or any other electronic means.
When you are on a website associated with the Group, we may use technologies such as cookies to collect information as to your activities on websites associated with the Group and/or your IP Address and/or the type of operating system you use and/or the domain name of your Internet Service Provider. If you do not wish for information to be collected through the use of cookies, please disable cookies in your internet browser. Whilst the Group will attempt to ensure all transfer of data is secure, the Group cannot be held responsible for the theft of data by a third party, or the consequences resulting from the loss of data where that loss is associated with the technical malfunction, tampering by a third party, viruses, computer bugs, or any action or event beyond the reasonable control of the Group.
The Group also collects other types of personal information from time to time (eg. credit information and drivers licence details), and will inform you upon collecting such information the purpose for which it is being collected.
The Group does not collect personal information unless it is necessary for Group to perform one or more of its functions and activities or supply one or more of its services. On occasion, some of this personal information may be sensitive and the Group will only collect it with your consent or when required to by law.
The Group will generally collect personal information from you directly. For example, the Group may collect personal information via telephone or letter, or when you attend a function or event, enter a competition, make a purchase, provide a resume or enter an agreement.
There may be other occasions when the Group needs to source personal information from an external third party. For example, the Group may collect personal information from credit agencies when establishing a credit account. The Group may also collect personal information regarding potential actors or employees from acting agencies, casting agents or recruitment agencies. The Group may also collect personal information from call centres involved in running competitions for the Group.
2. Use & Disclosure of Personal Information
Personal information provided to the Group may be shared with related companies within the Group. The Group takes all reasonably practical steps to keep such information strictly confidential.
The Group may use and disclose your personal information for the purpose for which it was initially collected, as well as for purposes related to the initial purpose of collection if that other purpose would be within your reasonable expectations. Related purposes might include identifying and referring you to products and services and/or production and broadcast activities and/or media activities that may be of benefit or interest to you, adding your name to a contact list, internal auditing and administration, adding your name to a guest list or invitation list, or assisting the Group to carry out auditing, administration, or product enhancement. Additionally, in the event of a re-organization, merger or sale, the Group may transfer any and all personal information we have collected from you to the relevant third party.
The Group may also be required to disclose your personal information without your consent if the disclosure is:
a. required or authorised by law;
b. required in order to investigate an unlawful activity;
c. required by an enforcement body for investigative activities; or
d. necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to a person's life, health or safety, or to public health or safety.
Generally, the Group will retain your personal information within Australia and not use or disclose it overseas. However, on some occasions the information may need to be transferred overseas in order to perform one of the Group's functions or activities. In these circumstances, the Group will either obtain your express or implied consent or will use its best endeavours to ensure that your personal information will receive protection similar to that which it would have if the information were in Australia.
Like most business organisations, the Group relies on third party suppliers who are contracted to conduct specialised activities such as insurance broking, vehicle and petrol supply, supply of equipment, engineering services, security services and travel and hospitality services. Whilst personal information may be provided to these suppliers in order to enable them to perform the agreed tasks, the Group will make every effort to ensure that the supplier handles the personal information in accordance with the National Privacy Principles and confidentiality principles. The Group will require all such suppliers to provide privacy undertakings and enter confidentiality agreements.
3. Collection, Use and Disclosure of Employee Records
This section 3 only applies to employees of Seven Media Group companies.
Generally, the personal information your employer collects about you whilst you are employed by Seven Media Group are "Employee Records", which includes personal information about your engagement, training, disciplining or resignation; termination of employment (if relevant); terms and conditions of employment; contact details (home and work); performance or conduct; hours of employment; salary or wages; membership of a profession or trade association; recreation, long service, sick, personal, maternity, paternity or other leave; taxation, banking or superannuation affairs and health.
The Group's collection and disclosure of your personal information contained within Employee Records does not breach the NPPs in the Privacy Act in relation to acts or practices by the Group that are directly related to its employment relationship with you and your Employee Records. Also Employee Records cannot be accessed in the same way as other personal information can be.
Your obligations
As an employee of the Group, you also have obligations in relation to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information under the Privacy Act and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ("Corporations Act"). You must ensure that you comply with the Privacy Policy when collecting, using and disclosing personal information of others and which is obtained or collected by you in the course of your employment with the Group.
In particular, you must not make improper use of information acquired by you by virtue of your employment with the Group so as to gain personal advantage (or advantage to anyone else) or cause detriment to the Group or the owner of the information. In addition, you must not allow unauthorised or improper publication of information that may be protected under the Corporations Act or the Privacy Act. Further, you must notify your manager or the Privacy Officer if you become aware of any other person breaching their obligations under this Privacy Policy.
Your consent
As an employee of the Group you consent to the Group collecting, using and disclosing your personal information for any purpose relating to the business or your employment.
You also consent to the Group disclosing personal information about you to other persons and to those persons collecting, using or disclosing the personal information for reasons relating to your employment. Those persons include the Australian Taxation Office, superannuation fund trustees and administrators, contractors, bankers, insurers, the Group's financial and legal advisers, external service providers, potential purchasers of the Group or its assets and law enforcement bodies.
4. Collection, Use and Disclosure of records collected in the course of journalism
As a media organization involved in the collection, preparation and dissemination of news, current affairs and information, the journalistic activities and practices of the Group are exempt from the NPPs, however the Group is committed to observing the standards set out in relation to privacy in the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice.
5. Direct marketing
From time to time the Group may use your personal information to identify programs, products and services that may be of interest to you. The Group may use your personal information to send you information regarding the Group's programs, products and services, and those available through the Group's business partners.
From time to time, and with your express permission, the Group may also provide your personal information to carefully selected third parties for the purpose of providing you with services specific to your needs, and to help the Group conduct product enhancement activities.
If you do not wish to receive direct marketing information from the Group about its programs, products or services or about those of third parties (as applicable), please let the Group know. The Group will take immediate steps to ensure that you do not receive any direct marketing information in future.
6. Personal Information Quality
The Group's objective is to ensure that all personal information collected by the Group is accurate, complete and up-to-date. To assist the Group in achieving its objective, please contact the Privacy Officer if any of your details change. Further, if you believe that the information the Group holds is not accurate, complete or up-to-date, please contact the Privacy Officer in order to have the information corrected.
7. Personal Information Security
The Group is committed to keeping your personal information secure, and we will take all reasonable precautions to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or alteration.
Your personal information may be stored in hard copy documents, or electronically on the Group's software or systems.
The Group maintains physical security over its paper and electronic data stores, such as locks and security systems. The Group also maintains computer and network security using passwords to control and restrict access to authorised staff for approved purposes.
Whilst the Group takes all reasonable steps to secure your personal information from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, you acknowledge that all activities in which you intentionally or unintentionally supply information to the Group carries an inherent risk of loss of, misuse of, or unauthorized access to such information. The Group cannot be held responsible for such actions where the security of the personal information is not within the control of the Group, or where the Group cannot reasonably prevent such incident.
Additionally, you acknowledge that the collection and use of your personal information by third parties may be subject to separate privacy policies and/or the laws of other jurisdictions.
8. Access To Personal Information
You may request access to the personal information the Group holds about you.
The procedure for gaining access is as follows:
a. All requests for access to your personal information must be made in writing and addressed to the Privacy Officer.
b. You must provide as much detail as possible regarding the business entity, department or person to whom you believe your personal information has been provided, and when. This will allow the Group to process your request faster.
c. The Group will acknowledge your request within 14 days, and access will usually be granted within 14 days, or if it is more complicated, 30 days. The Group will inform you if this timeframe is not achievable.
d. You will be asked to verify your identity.
e. A fee may apply to such access in the event that a request for access is onerous or time consuming. Such a fee will cover staff costs involved in locating and collating information, and reproduction costs.
f. Depending on the circumstances, you may be forwarded the information by mail or email, or you may be required to personally inspect your records at the appropriate place.
g. You will be given the opportunity to correct any personal information that is no longer accurate.
In some circumstances, the Group may not be in a position to provide access. Such circumstances include the following:
a. access would create a serious threat to safety;
b. providing access will have an unreasonable impact upon the privacy of other individuals or would cause undue embarrassment to other individuals;
c. denying access is required or authorised by law;
d. the request is frivolous or vexatious;
e. legal proceedings are underway;
f. negotiations may be prejudiced by such access;
g. providing access is likely to prejudice law enforcement and/or the protection of the public revenue; or
h. access would reveal a commercially sensitive decision making process.
If the Group denies access to your personal information, it will provide you with reasons in writing.
9. Changes To This Policy
The Group may, without notice, change this Policy from time to time for any reason and will update the Policy accordingly. We ask that you visit our website periodically in order to remain up to date with such changes.
10. Complaints
If you believe that your privacy has been infringed you are entitled to complain. All complaints should initially be in writing and directed to the Privacy Officer. The Group will respond to your complaint as soon as possible, within 14 working days, to let you know who is responsible for managing your query. The Group will try to resolve the complaint within 30 working days. When this is not possible the Group will contact you to provide an estimate of how long it will take to handle the complaint.
If you believe the Group has not adequately dealt with your complaint, you may complain to the Privacy Commissioner whose contact details are as follows:
Officer of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
133 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9284 9800
www.privacy.gov.au
11. Privacy Officer's Contact Details
Please address all written correspondence to:
Privacy Officer, c/- Legal Department
Seven Media Group
38 - 42 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Email: privacy@seven.com.au