Jurisdiction-specific data protection, defamation law, and removal process information for Australia. Last reviewed 2025.
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is the supervisory authority for data protection in Australia. Individuals can file erasure and data-related complaints directly with this authority.
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs); Defamation Acts (harmonised 2005, amended 2021); Online Safety Act 2021
Australia's Privacy Act includes rights to access and correction of personal information. While there is no direct GDPR-equivalent "right to erasure", the OAIC is reviewing whether to introduce a stronger right. The eSafety Commissioner can order removal of serious online abuse under the Online Safety Act 2021.
Australian defamation law was significantly amended in 2021, introducing a "serious harm" threshold modelled on the UK Defamation Act 2013. Online defamation is fully actionable, and Australian courts have asserted jurisdiction over international online publishers when content is accessed in Australia.
Removal requests to Google Australia follow Google's global delisting process. The OAIC investigates Privacy Act complaints. The eSafety Commissioner has powers to compel removal of cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and other harmful content from platforms.
Common Australian sources requiring removal include News.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Herald Sun, ABC Online, Domain, realestate.com.au, ProductReview.com.au, and True Local.
The eSafety Commissioner's powers under the Online Safety Act 2021 extend beyond defamation to cover a broad range of harmful content â making Australia one of the few countries with a dedicated regulator specifically for online safety and content removal.