Data Breaches in Australia Decline Amid Rising Human Errors
The number of data breaches in Australia dropped during the first half of 2025, yet the increase in breaches caused by human error worries the nation’s privacy regulator.
Key Statistics from the OAIC
- 532 notifiable breaches reported from January to June under the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme
- A 10% decrease compared to the prior six-month period’s record high
- Malicious or criminal attacks remained the leading cause, responsible for 59% of breaches
- The health sector was the hardest hit, representing 18% of notifications
- Finance followed with 14%, and government agencies with 13%
- Breaches due to staff mistakes rose sharply to 37%, up from 29%
Privacy Commissioner’s Perspective
Australian privacy commissioner Carly Kind said, “The human factor continues to pose a notable threat to the strength of an organisation’s personal information security, regardless of how secure its systems are.”
New Tools for Transparency
The OAIC launched a public dashboard alongside the latest NDB data. This interactive tool enables businesses and the public to monitor the origins and frequency of data breaches, enhancing awareness and response capabilities.
Author’s summary: Despite fewer overall breaches in Australia, rising incidents caused by human error highlight a critical and growing risk to personal data security in organizations.