From...

by Luisa Bustos

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (IDG) -- A massive data warehouse containing information on more than 15 million Australians is nearing completion.

Created through a joint venture between Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (PBL) and U.S. company Acxiom, the warehouse will include information from credit and financial sources, retail and purchasing organizations, post office lists and electoral rolls. Additional information will also come from other PBL-associated companies.

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Based on a similar Acxiom database that operates in the U.S. and contains information on 95 percent of Americans, the data warehouse is slated to be operational as early as Christmas. It is expected the database will constantly grow in size and complexity.

News of the data warehouse has raised concerns over privacy issues for Australian consumers. Malcolm Crompton, federal privacy commissioner, said more questions regarding plans for the database need to answered.

"There is no question that data warehouses, especially ones in the U.S., have done the wrong thing. There's no question that it happens," Crompton said. "I'm saying I wouldn't have a clue [about Acxiom] yet."

Crompton said if Acxiom has collected information with consent, the data warehouse could be used as a business-to-business service or relationship-building tool.

Amendments to Australia's current privacy legislation, which covers federal agencies, are expected to be discussed during next year's first parliamentary sitting. The changes to the privacy law will require private-sector organizations to follow similar legislation to the public sector, Crompton said. Acxiom didn't respond to IDG News Service's phone calls by deadline.