Data breach notifications in Australia rise by 8% — ABC News Australia
Australia’s Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) received 1,205 data breach notifications in 2025, 8% more than a year earlier. Cyberattacks remained the main cause of such incidents, ABC News Australia reports.
Most data breach notifications were linked to malicious or criminal activity. Healthcare providers were most often affected by such incidents, accounting for 19% of the total number of recorded cases.
Technology and privacy risks
The topic of cybersecurity was discussed in an ABC online discussion about the impact of artificial intelligence and technology on Australians’ daily lives. Participants raised questions about the possible replacement of jobs by AI, privacy violations, disinformation and digital exclusion.
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Mihai Lazarescu, an associate professor at Curtin University and a specialist in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, joined the discussion. In his view, AI can replace repetitive work that does not require a proper understanding of context, but it cannot fully replace human creativity and innovation.
Demand for cybersecurity specialists
Lazarescu also noted that the introduction of AI may create new employment opportunities in cybersecurity. According to him, AI agents require access to confidential data and resources, which complicates information protection and requires qualified specialists.
ABC also drew attention to the risk of digital exclusion for older people, as well as residents of Australia’s regional and remote areas. AI consultant and educator Jess Tresidder said that regional and marginalised communities are often the last to gain access to new technologies and training, but may be among the first to feel the consequences of technological change.
