Privacy Awareness Week
NSW 2026
Smart Tech, Smarter Choices –
Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI
4 - 10 May 2026
About Privacy Awareness Week
Privacy Awareness Week will take place from 4 – 10 May 2026.
Privacy Awareness Week is a global campaign that highlights the importance of privacy and raises awareness for public sector agencies about how to protect the personal information of our citizens. Each year, the IPC hosts a campaign for NSW citizens and public sector agencies to raise awareness of privacy rights and obligations.
This year’s theme is “Smart Tech, Smarter Choices – Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI” and focuses on reminding all of us that smart technologies can make services faster, efficient, more personalised and more convenient, but they can also create risks if people are not aware of what information is being captured or how it is used.
Commissioner Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to this year's Privacy Awareness Week NSW campaign.
AI has rapidly moved from a specialist capability to mainstream technology. Smart technology and AI are now very much part of everyday life and work, shaping how information is collected, shared and used. AI has become more prevalent, widely adopted and as more tools become available, knowing how and where your personal information moves has never been more important. This year’s theme focuses on how understanding these technologies empowers people to feel confident, informed and in control of their personal information to make smart and informed choices.
While smart technologies can offer convenience, make services faster, efficient, more personalised, they also rely on large amounts of information, including personal information to function effectively. They can however, also create risks and undermine trust if people are not aware of what information is being captured, how it is used and how it is protected.
In the age of AI and smart technologies, we all play an important role in making sure our information is protected by keeping our personal information secure, being mindful of the information we share and how its used, regularly reviewing privacy settings online and reporting any privacy breaches to the relevant NSW agency.
This Privacy Awareness Week, I encourage you to get involved and share the week's important message Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI. You can also get involved in events and engage your network to further promote privacy.
I look forward to celebrating the right to protect personal information and privacy with you during Privacy Awareness Week NSW 2026.
Sonia Minutillo
NSW Privacy Commissioner
What's on
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PAW NSW Event – Smart Tech, Smarter Choices – Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI AI has rapidly moved from a specialist capability to mainstream technology. Smart technology and AI are now part of everyday life, shaping how information is collected, shared and used. AI has become more prevalent, widely adopted and as more tools become available, knowing how and where your data moves has never been more important. This year’s theme focuses on how understanding these technologies empowers people to feel confident, informed and in control of their personal information. Our keynote speaker, Bill Simpson-Young, Chief Executive at the Gradient Institute, will discuss AI and Privacy: What are the new capabilities and risks and what do those mean for privacy? NSW Privacy Commissioner Sonia Minutillo will address the overarching theme of PAW 2026 and how small choices can strengthen privacy protection and in keeping your information safe in the age of AI. Date: Tuesday 5 May 2026 This event is open to NSW public sector agencies, including those within local government, universities, state-owned corporations and ministerial offices. Please note: In-person registrations have now been filled, however you can still view the event online. |
Resources
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For Privacy Awareness Week, the Privacy Commissioner has released two new resources for AI:
In addition, the Privacy Commissioner has also updated privacy management plan resources to include AI and ADM considerations and updated the existing e-learning module on Privacy Complaints Handling. |
Fact Sheet - Engaging with AI
This fact sheet assists in understanding how AI involves privacy and can impact the security of personal information.
Guide – Privacy risks associated with the use of generative AI tools
This guide supports agencies in understanding key privacy risks that may arise through the adoption of generative AI tools, as well as suggested mitigations.
Guide - Guide to making privacy management plans
Every NSW public sector agency that is bound by the PPIP Act must prepare and implement a privacy management plan (plan).
Checklist - Privacy Management Plans
This checklist is a useful tool for an agency to assess the content of a PMP once it has already been prepared.
Guide - Guide to undertaking Privacy Impact Assessments on AI systems and projects
This guide supports agencies in understanding, assessing and reducing privacy risks relating to AI systems and projects when undertaking PIAs.
e-Learning for Privacy
The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) provides education primarily for public sector agency staff working with the:
2026 Champions
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2026 Champion Program
Are you from a Local Council, State-Owned Corporation, University or State Government agency? Register now to become a 2026 Privacy Awareness Week Champion.
This year we will again be running the Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) Champion Program. NSW public sector agencies can join as Champions to help spread the PAW message as well as encourage their agency and work colleagues to get involved and promote privacy rights.
Champions of the Program will receive a pack full of digital and printable resources, as well as written content such as newsletter articles, blog posts, social media posts and more to make promoting the campaign easy.
You can register your agency as a PAW NSW 2026 Champion using this webform. Agencies will also be acknowledged as a Champion here on the PAW NSW webpage and via the IPC's social media where possible.
