The terms of reference have been released for the government’s planned review of the Privacy Act.

The review is intended to consider whether Australians should have the right to have their personal information erased, among other reforms.

The Privacy Act has not been amended since 2012.

The new changes will build on existing reforms to increase the maximum civil penalties, including introducing a “binding privacy code to apply to social media platforms”.

“The digital economy has brought with it immense benefits including new, faster and better products and services,” the issues paper accompanying the terms of reference for the review states.

“As Australians spend more of their time online, and new technologies emerge, more personal information about individuals is being captured and processed, raising questions as to whether Australian privacy law is fit for purpose.

“At the same time, businesses that are trying to do the right thing are faced with an increasingly complex regulatory environment with respect to managing personal information.

“This is particularly true for businesses who work across international borders where complying with information protection standards can be a requirement for access to overseas markets.”

The paper is accessible here.