Optus faces potential class action and pledges free credit monitoring to data-breach customers

Home affairs minister Clare O'Neil says company to blame and flags new laws with large fines for such breaches

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Optus has agreed to provide free credit monitoring to the millions of customers caught up in its massive data breach, as the home affairs minister flags changes to law to potentially fine companies millions for similar breaches.

The company on Monday said it had informed all customers via email or SMS who had their passport or driver's licence numbers compromised in the breach last week.

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