An exploration of Australian attitudes towards privacy

Purpose: Using technology to meet national security expectations and requirements is not new. Nations attempt to strike a balance between security and the (expressed or otherwise) privacy needs of citizens. Attacks (physical or cyber) on citizens shift the equilibrium point towards security. In contrast, civil liberties organisations act to preserve or increase privacy. The purpose of this paper is to explore Australian attitudes towards privacy and surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this paper aims to discover what (if any) factors contribute to societal acceptance of privacy encroachment implicated by surveillance programs. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection occurred during 2021 using a cross-sectional survey comprising a variety of self-assessment questions. In addition, anchoring vignettes were introduced as a means of contextualising complex concepts, i.e. privacy and security. Finally, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify homogenous patterns within the data, referred to as "classes” for the analysis of trust. Findings: First, the survey revealed that citizens appear to be unconcerned about surveillance in public and private spaces (although this may be a temporary effect resulting from the pandemic). The potential for identification, however, does raise concerns. Second, LCA surfaced a specific group that were more likely to trust entities and showed less concern about surveillance in society. Finally, even this latter group displayed a "trust deficit” in specific organisations (private businesses and social media firms). Research limitations/practical implications: The tension between security and privacy remains, even in a post-pandemic world;therefore, the authors consider that the results, whilst interesting, are preliminary. Notwithstanding this, the findings provide insight into Australian attitudes towards privacy and surveillance and, consequently, provide input into public policy. Originality/value: This is the most recent survey of the Australian public concerning this issue. The analysis of the effect of the pandemic on attitudes provides further value. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Creating a Digital Psychoeducation Programme for bipolar disorder in the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic profoundly affected delivery and accessibility of mental health care services at a time when most needed. The OPTIMA Mood Disorder Service, a specialist bipolar disorder service, adapted group psychoeducation programme for delivery on-line. Objective(s): We report the feasibility of creating a digital psychoeducation programme. Method(s): The OPTIMA ten session group psychoeducation programme was converted into a 'Digital' intervention using videoconferencing. Sessions offered a range of key topics, derived from the initial Barcelona Group Psychoeducation Programme. At the time of writing, OPTIMA had fully completed two 10 session digital courses. Result(s): A total of 12 people (6 in each group) consented to be part of a service evaluation of the digital groups. Just over half of the participants were women (7/12;58.3%) and one identified as being non-binary (8.3);remaining participants were men. Age of participants ranged from 25 years to 65 years (Mean=42.3;SD=13.1). Data showed a high level of engagement (77%) All participants reported some improvement with a mean Bipolar Self-Efficacy scale (BPSES) post-group score of 105.6 (SD=14.8). At group level, this change was not statistically significant (F (1, 15) = 0.71, p=0.41). At an individual level, two out of five showed a reliable change index >1.96. Conclusion(s): Delivering a 'digital' group psychoeducation programme was possible due to careful planning and programme development. There was good uptake from service users suggesting it is a feasible approach with preliminary evidence of clinical benefit.

A Survey of Australian Attitudes Towards Privacy: Some Preliminary Results

The challenge of meeting security requirements (of a nation-state) and the privacy needs of citizens is perhaps a political goal, but it is enabled by technology. Attacks on citizens tend to move the balance towards security, whilst civil liberties groups often act as a counter to not over-correct security, so as to guarantee privacy. This paper explores Australian attitudes towards privacy and surveillance during the pandemic. We consider a fundamental question: Has the pandemic changed the perception of Australian citizens with regard to their fundamental right to privacy? We surveyed Australian attitudes to privacy in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and report on some interesting results. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Australian Attitudes Towards Privacy of Information: Will COVID-19 Make a Difference?

There has always been tension between security needs (as expressed by a nation-state) and privacy needs (as expressed by the citizens of said nation-state). Achieving this balance is perhaps one of the goals of statecraft. Terrorist attacks tend to shift the balance towards security, whilst proponents of civil liberties tend to want to move the balance in the other direction. We examine Australian attitudes to privacy in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and consider whether the effect of the pandemic is likely to change Australian’s perception of their fundamental right to privacy, as determined by law, enabled by technology and shaped by human concerns. © 2020, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.