Big Brother Awards logo

At events in Sydney and Canberra on 11 November 2009, the following Awards were voted in:

Orwell Award for the WORST CORPORATE INVADER

For a corporation that has shown a blatant disregard for privacy

Orwell Award for the WORST PUBLIC AGENCY OR OFFICIAL

For a government agency or official that has shown a blatant disregard for privacy

  • WINNER – The National eHealth Transition Authority (NEHTA) – Nomination Form

Orwell Award for the MOST INVASIVE TECHNOLOGY

For a technology that is particularly privacy invasive.

  • WINNER – Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), as implemented by the Australian Police Forces in combination with CrimTrac – Nomination Form
  • RUNNER-UP – Google Maps – Nomination Form

SPECIAL People’s Choice Award

For a government agency or official that has shown a blatant disregard for privacy

Smith Award for the BEST PRIVACY GUARDIAN

For a meritorious act of privacy protection or defence

  • WINNER – Nomination Form
    • Carolyn Bond, Consumer Action Law Centre, Victoria
    • Katherine Lane, Consumer Credit Legal Service, NSW

Archive

Come along and join us at this year’s Big Brother Awards

Nominations for the 2009 Big Brother Awards (BBA2009) closed in October, and this year the winners will be decided by ballot on the evening of 11 November at two venues, in Sydney and Canberra.

The Big Brother Awards consist of two groups, the ‘Orwells’ and the ‘Smiths’. The Orwells (named after George Orwell, author of 1984) recognise organizations, technologies and people who have invaded or threaten to invade privacy. The Smiths (named after George Orwell’s 1984 hero who opposed Big Brother) acknowledge people who protect us from privacy invasions.

From a diverse range of nominations received for the “Orwell”categories of the “Big Brother 2009” Awards, six finalists were selected. Information about the finalists will available from 4 November at https://privacy.org.au/bba/

VENUES: You, your colleagues and friends are invited to the “Big Brother 2009” Awards Events (7-30 to 10pm) on 11 November 2009, hosted by the Australian Privacy Foundation. The simultaneous venues are:

  • Canberra: the Pot Belly, Weedon Close, Belconnen
  • Sydney: the Reuters Bar, Brooklyn Hotel, corner George & Grosvenor Streets, Sydney City.

Entry is free, and you can buy your drinks and food from the bar.

FORMAT: The format of the evening will be an old style public debate (complete with soapbox), to discuss the relative merits of the finalists for the “Orwell” categories of:

  1. Worst Corporate Invader –– for a corporation that has shown a blatant disregard for privacy.
  2. Worst Public Agency or Official –– for a government agency or official that has shown a blatant disregard for privacy.
  3. Most Invasive Technology –– for a technology that is particularly privacy invasive.

The Smith Awards recognise people who have protected privacy, this year with outstanding nominees for the category of:

  1. Best Privacy Guardian –– for a meritorious act of privacy protection or defense.

Representatives from the finalists have been invited. Other speakers will come from the floor, so there will be plenty of opportunity to have your say.

A vote will determine the winner for each category. All awards will be ‘People’s Choice’, from a combination of APF members and those present on the evening at both venues.

The winners will be announced after the counting.

Please circulate this invitation to your colleagues and friends. So we can ensure we have enough private space in the venues (and hotel management can allocate sufficient staff), please email the approximate numbers you expect to attend by 10 November to bba@privacy.org.au. For require further information, please also send queries to this address.

What happens next?

Each acceptable nomination will be seconded’ by an APF Board Member to ensure there is sufficient evidence of the behaviour.

Once the nomination is ‘seconded’the APF will try to contact the nominee to provide them with :

  • the opportunity to comment on the nomination, particularly on the factual basis and justification provided. If the nominee does not reply or declines to make any comment this is recorded with the nomination.
  • Information about the public award process and press release.

All nominations that are ‘seconded’will be included in the voting process.

Judging –– Award presentation – 11 November 2009 –– Sydney and Canberra

This year, for the first time, the public will be invited to vote for the winners of the 4 Orwells and 2 Smiths at the BBA2009 Awards held concurrently in pubs in Sydney and Canberra. Details of the venues will be available after nominations close. Attendees will be asked to register prior to attendance for logistical purposes.

Attendees at the Awards will debate the relative merits of each nomination prior to the voting for each category. Where practical, and where the APF has been able to contact the nominees, the nominees or their representatives for the Orwells will be invited to attend the BBA 2009 Awards and will be given the opportunity to speak on their own behalf. For the Smith nominees, the relative merits of each nominee will be discussed.

Votes will be collated and the final winners for each Category announced. It is normal practice to deliver the Award to each winner.

Time and Venues

7:30pm, 11 November 2009

  • Canberra: the Pot Belly, Weedon Close, Belconnen
  • Sydney: the Reuters Bar, Brooklyn Hotel, corner George & Grosvenor Streets, Sydney City.

RSVP and Inquiries

If you would like to attend the Awards, or you have any queries, please send an email to <bba@privacy.org.au> by 1 November 2009. Please include:

  • your name (or a pseudonym!)
  • how many people are coming with you

For more information about the APF, including an application for membership and how to contact us, see <https://privacy.org.au/>.

Media Contact

info@privacy.org.au