Priya Dev, an Australian National University data science academic, is investigating how political parties and other organizations obtain personal data, prompted by unwanted political spam. The article exposes the opaque world of data brokers who buy and sell personal information, often without individuals' awareness, and highlights the challenges of tracking data origins due to privacy law exemptions for political parties and ambiguous privacy policies. It discusses concerns raised by the federal privacy commissioner and the ACCC about the industry's practices and calls for strengthened privacy laws.
How did you get my number? Inside the shadowy world of data brokers
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Priya Dev, an Australian National University data science academic, is investigating how political parties and other organizations obtain personal data, prompted by unwanted political spam. The article exposes the opaque world of data brokers who buy and sell personal information, often without individuals' awareness, and highlights the challenges of tracking data origins due to privacy law exemptions for political parties and ambiguous privacy policies. It discusses concerns raised by the federal privacy commissioner and the ACCC about the industry's practices and calls for strengthened privacy laws.
Trending- 1 2014: Data obtained through a marketing campaign
- 2 2016: Data broker bought Priya Dev's data
- 3 2020: Priya Dev received spam from a minor political party
- 4 2023: CoreLogic Australia legitimately bought Priya Dev's data; ACCC released report on data brokering
- 5 Last year (2024): Priya Dev tracked phone number to CoreLogic
- 6 April (2025): Crikey reported on child's email receiving Liberal party spam
- 7 2025 federal election campaign: Priya Dev received unwanted political spam
- 8 Current: Priya Dev investigating data origins; Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind keen to prioritize investigation; debate on extending privacy obligations to political parties
- Increased public awareness of data privacy issues
- Potential for strengthened privacy laws in Australia
- Ongoing debate about political parties' exemption from privacy regulations
What: Priya Dev, a data science academic, is investigating the opaque practices of data brokers and political parties in acquiring and sharing personal information, prompted by unwanted spam.
When: 2025 federal election campaign; 2020 (minor political party spam); last year (Dev tracked phone number to CoreLogic); 2023 (CoreLogic bought data); 2016 (data broker bought data); 2014 (marketing campaign); April (Crikey report); 2023 (ACCC report).
Where: Australia.
Why: To understand how personal data is acquired and shared without consent, to advocate for greater transparency and stronger privacy laws, and to address the 'creepy' and 'affronting' nature of data brokering practices.
How: Priya Dev is tracking the origin of her own spam emails and phone calls. Associate Professor Katharine Kemp is researching data-matching services. The federal privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, and the ACCC are investigating the industry and supporting strengthened privacy laws.