University of Melbourne reprimanded for using wi-fi data to identify protesters
The University of Melbourne has been reprimanded for using wi-fi location data to identify students involved in a sit-in protest last year. An investigation by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) into the July 2024 incident found the use of wi-fi data amounted to a “serious” breach of privacy. The university had previously […]
UK agrees to drop encryption ‘backdoor’ mandate for Apple
Britain has dropped its demand for the iPhone maker Apple to provide a “backdoor” that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens, United States director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said. Gabbard issued the statement on X, saying she had worked for months with Britain, along with President Donald Trump […]
Greater Western Water’s billing system data issues laid bare
A billing system replacement at Greater Western Water came unstuck due to go-live pressures and data migration practices, leading to at least 320 privacy breaches involving customers. The utility, which formed through the merger of City West Water and Western Water, elected to retire the billing systems of both component organisations and set up an […]
Flight Centre Corporate now has a single observability strategy and tool
Flight Centre’s Corporate travel division has elevated observability from a technical tool to a strategic platform that supports its productivity and customer experience ambitions. Flight Centre Corporate’s CTO A/NZ Grant Currey The division will detail its strategy and a year-long global consolidation of Datadog at the vendor’s summit in Sydney today. “We have a massive […]
IAG uses GenAI to decide whether to send tradies for ‘make safe’ repairs
Insurer IAG is using generative artificial intelligence to assess whether a property requires urgent repairs following a hazard or incident. Willem Paling, second right, at Google Cloud Summit, Sydney Executive manager of analytics and AI Willem Paling told a Google Cloud Summit that the company is running a generative AI model across property claims to […]
Suncorp deploys Duck Creek at AAMI
Suncorp is “deep in delivery” of a new policy administration system in its AAMI brand in Australia, having first deployed the platform at a joint venture company in New Zealand. Suncorp CIO Adam Bennett. CEO and managing director Steve Johnston told the insurer’s full-year investor call that the initial deployment of the software, made by […]
Geoscience Australia shakes up IT support with $16.6m Leidos deal
Geoscience Australia has appointed Leidos Australia as its new IT services provider, six months ahead of the expiry of an existing contract with Cirrus. The geoscientific research agency signed a $16.6 million deal with Leidos to provide ICT managed services for the next three years. Geoscience has been working with Perth-based Cirrus since May 2021, […]
Health expands cloud footprint with $32m Azure deal
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is scaling up its cloud capabilities with a $32 million contract for Microsoft Azure services. The three-year deal was signed via the federal government’s volume sourcing arrangement with Microsoft and through partner Data#3. It is structured as a Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC), a vendor-specific agreement to spend […]
David Jones leans on Snowflake for de-merger modernisation
David Jones is using Snowflake as a data integration fabric to accelerate its digital transformation following its de-merger from South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings two years ago. The department store adopted Snowflake at the same time as it formalised the creation of a new IT division and operating model under the leadership of chief technology officer […]
Google agrees to curb power use for AI data centres
Google has signed agreements with two US electric utilities to reduce its AI data centre power consumption during times of surging demand on the grid when energy-intensive AI use outpaces power supplies. Utilities in the country have been inundated with requests for electricity for Big Tech’s AI data centres, with demand eclipsing total available power […]