Privacy concerns over Australian businesses collecting data for Covid contact tracing

Businesses in areas where restrictions are being eased are urged to be careful about how they collect information

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Australian businesses are being warned to be careful about how they collect and store people's names and phone numbers amid privacy concerns if contact lists are left out in the open, or staff misuse the data.

In the states where coronavirus restrictions are easing, businesses have been required to begin collecting people's names and phone numbers for the purposes of contact tracing in the event that the bar, restaurant, gym or other public facility or venue is host to a Covid-19 outbreak.