A complaint has been filed with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) by law firm Maurice Blackburn, alleging Qantas failed to adequately protect customer data during a cyber attack on an offshore call centre.

Council of the City of Sydney

A complaint has been filed with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) by law firm Morris Blackburn, alleging Qantas failed to adequately protect customer data during a cyber attack on an offshore call centre. The breach resulted in the theft of sensitive information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers of 5.7 million Qantas customers.

The complaint calls for compensation for affected customers and an investigation into Qantas' data protection practices, with recommendations for systemic improvements. Qantas has obtained an interim injunction to prevent publication of the stolen data and stated its commitment to protecting customer information. There is no evidence that the stolen data has been released, and Qantas' share price remains unaffected.

Compensation demands from Qantas customers over data breach

Money could be coming to the pockets of 5.7 million Qantas customers if Morris Blackburn's complaint with the Office of the Australian Commissioner is approved. I'm really sick of hearing about these data breaches and I think Australian business needs to get on board with improved protections for people. The law firm is claiming Qantas failed to take reasonable steps to protect their customers' data. Last month's cyber attack on an offshore call centre included the theft of sensitive information like names, addresses and phone numbers. This is information that might seem benign on one level, but I think can be very relevant and used by cyber criminals. The complaint also calls for the OAIC to investigate Qantas' data handling practices, recommending systemic improvements to prevent future breaches. However, cybersecurity experts warn this likely isn't the last wide-scale hack we'll see on a big business. It's still a profitable enough business that the cyber criminals aren't going to give up tomorrow. It is unclear how long it could take for Morris Blackburn to hear back from the OAIC. However, in the meantime, they're encouraging affected customers to register with them if they want updates and a potential payment. This comes a day after Qantas obtained an interim injunction to try and stop the publication of the stolen information. This injunction is not going to stop criminals from using it, but what it does mean is it puts a level of legal control there to stop someone from going, oh, I'm going to play a prank on my friends by looking up their Qantas information. In a statement, Qantas says they want to do all they can to protect their customers' personal information and believe this was an important next course of action, as it works to avoid more turbulence from this latest saga. Qantas' share price actually hit an all-time high this week, so there has not been any impact really from what's happened there on people's perception of the value of the company. There is still no evidence the stolen data has been released. However, Qantas, alongside cybersecurity experts, are actively monitoring the situation. Emma Olsen, 10 News.

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