Question 4: I have a privacy-related complaint about a social networking site. Who can I complain to?

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Question 4:  I have a privacy-related complaint about a social networking site. Who can I complain to?

Answer: If you have a privacy-related complaint, there are a number of options depending on your situation.

Contact the site

Generally it is best to complain to the social networking site first. Send them a message explaining the problem and how you would like them to fix it.

Complain to the trust-mark issuer

Some social networking websites have a privacy ‘trust-mark’. For example, Bebo and Facebook have the ‘TRUSTe’ trust-mark. This is a symbol that they display on their privacy policy which says that their information handling practices meet with certain standards set out by the trust-mark organisation. (It’s a bit like the Heart Foundation tick that is displayed on some food products.) If you have a privacy-related complaint and the site hasn’t adequately dealt with it, you can complain to the trust-mark organisation, and it may be able to investigate further on your behalf.

Call our Office’s enquiries line on 1300 363 992 – we may be able to help

If a separate organisation has misused information about you that they collected from your MySpace or Facebook page (FAQ 5 has more information), you should complain to that organisation. If they don’t adequately resolve your complaint and it’s an organisation covered by the Privacy Act, you can complain to our Office – the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Call our enquiries line (1300 363 992) for more information or send us an email at privacy@privacy.gov.au.

Is your complaint about another user of the site?

If another user of a social networking site is using your personal information to harass, bully or defame you, FAQ 8 or 9 may help.

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