Data Breach Disclosure: Why Public Reporting Must Be Required

When personal data gets stolen or leaked, people need to know — fast. Right now, most organizations don’t have to tell the public when a breach happens. Instead, they report only to regulators and affected individuals, keeping the details private. That silence means victims don’t get a warning to protect themselves, and it makes it hard to understand how often breaches happen or what kinds of mistakes lead to them. The system as it stands relies on what companies choose to share — and that choice often protects the company’s image, not the public’s safety.

The reality is that data breaches aren’t rare or isolated. In Australia alone, 464 breaches were reported in the six months ending December 2021. About 256 came from cyberattacks, while 190 were caused by human error — like sending sensitive emails or losing a device with personal data. Sectors like healthcare, finance, and legal services have the most incidents, showing breaches aren’t just a tech problem. When companies don’t share what happened, it becomes harder to spot patterns, fix flaws, or hold them accountable.

Why Public Disclosure Matters

• Silent breaches go unnoticed: Without public reporting, many incidents slip under the radar. This makes it hard to track how often data is compromised and where the risks are highest.
• Voluntary reporting fails: The current rules require reporting to regulators, but don’t force public disclosure. That means companies can avoid public scrutiny and downplay the impact — even when damage is real.
• People suffer without warning: Victims face fraud, identity theft, and stress. If they don’t know a breach happened, they can’t take steps to protect their accounts or report it to authorities.
• Accountability is weak: Without public data, it’s hard to judge whether companies are taking data protection seriously or just ticking boxes for compliance.

Mandatory public reporting isn’t about making companies more defensive — it’s about giving people the right to know. When breaches are shared openly, it builds trust, helps spot real risks, and pushes organizations to act — not just when they’re caught, but when they’re still in the early stages of a problem.