Defence says it hasn't broken privacy laws as it faces multiple probes
The privacy regulator is investigating several allegations against the department over the management of its online database.
The Department of Defence has rejected allegations it may have breached privacy laws following revelations it is being investigated over its online database, which a veteran says was abused to intimidate him for speaking out over alleged war crimes.
Defence’s Personnel Management Keys System (PMKeyS) is an online portal holding the personal details of more than 10,000 current and former servicepeople, including the names of family members and contact details. Thousands of people have access to it.
But Defence revealed last year that it could only track who had accessed the system if they altered data on it, prompting concerns it could be vulnerable to foreign spies and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel seeking to use data for nefarious purposes.
Last week, Capital Brief revealed that an Army veteran had claimed his personal details were stripped from PMKeyS after he spoke publicly about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The allegation is one of a number related to the database that are under investigation by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OAIC).
