Loss of privacy: what it is, and what’s happened in Australia
AI systems that memorize and leak sensitive personal data or infer private information about individuals without their consent. Unexpected or unauthorized sharing of data and information can compromise user expectation of privacy, assist identity theft, or loss of confidential intellectual property.
Definition and category 2.1 from the MIT AI Risk Repository, used under CC BY 4.0.
How experts rate it
With mitigations — 7.2%The difference between the two estimates — 4.0 points
Mean probability of a catastrophic outcome by 2030 — more than 1 million deaths, or more than USD 100 billion in financial loss, or comparable civilisation-scale intangible damage. Across 272 experts who took part. How this was measured
The study tabulates 5 of its 23 figures; this one was read from MIT's published chart on 18 August 2026.
Ranks 16 of 23 rated risks. This study published no interval for it, so the position of neighbouring risks is not meaningful. Experts put the difference at 4.0 percentage points.
Rank 16 of 23 by expert-rated severity, at 11.2%. See all 23 ranked
Evidence
- Evidence
Despite ruling that Clearview AI violated Australian privacy laws by scraping millions of Australians' photos without consent, regulators dropped all further action.
Rita Matulionyte, Associate Professor of Law, Macquarie University
What's been called for
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What politicians have said
“I think we’re all concerned about the implications for privacy. I think there are reasons to be concerned about the potential anti-competitive aspects if the AI engines consolidate over coming years. But it’s also very clear that this is a technology with great potential to take away drudge parts of our jobs and allow people to focus on the most stimulating types.”
Loss of privacy
“Recent years have seen an explosion in interest in artificial intelligence and big data. The technology is promising, but its use in government rightly makes people nervous. Yet it's useful to see areas where artificial intelligence and big data have helped produce better outcomes for citizens, without undermining key ethical values of transparency, privacy and human oversight.”
Andrew Leigh · · The Canberra Times – Opinion piece
Loss of privacy
What Australians say
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What people ask
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Think Australia should act?
Your MP and senators decide what Australia does about AI. A few lines in your own words about loss of privacy is enough to tell them it matters to you.
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