PSN Attacks Prompt New Australian Privacy Laws

The Australian federal government will introduce new laws that force companies to reveal security breaches quickly in direct response to April's attack on Sony's PlayStation Network, according to reports. According to Australia's WA Today, privacy minister Brendan O'Connor has expressed that a mandatory data breach notification system "appears necessary," expressing disappointment over Sony's delayed statement regarding its cyber attack. "All companies that collect customers' personal information must ensure that the information is safe and secure from misuse," said O'Connor, who did not know when such laws might be introduced. Just as the U.S. Congress did, Australian privacy commissioner Timothy Pilgrim sent a series of questions to Sony in a letter last week, asking the company to explain the security measures it had in place at the time of the attack. That letter has not yet been answered, though a response is expected by "mid-next week." Sony isn't the only major company under heat by the Australian federal government over internet security, as similar recent incidents involving Dell Australia and Telstra were also observed by O'Connor, according to the report.