"In a first-of-its-kind determination against one of the platforms, published on Wednesday, the privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, found 2Apply, operated by InspectRealEstate, had collected excessive personal information in an unfair manner.

Kind found that 2Apply did not need to collect gender information, detail on dependents, student status, bankruptcy status, retirement status, previous living history, current ownership of property, applications for other properties, bond/rent assistance application status and citizenship status or visa expiry.

Kind also found 2Apply could collect less information on emergency contacts, vehicle details, certain ID documents, proof of income documents and employment details.

The privacy commissioner found that 2Apply’s application system exhibited what is dubbed “confirmshaming” – an online tactic that uses guilt to discourage a user from opting out of something..

The form noteed that providing information would “help speed up your application process” and not providing it may “affect whether you are considered as a suitable tenant for the property”.

Kind wrote: “These statements are not necessarily untrue or misleading … However, by presenting these messages to individuals, my view is that the respondent is employing language that suggests that the volume and type of personal information provided is an indicator of their suitability as a tenant.”"

Rental platform unnecessarily collected the data of millions of Australians, privacy commissioner finds

2Apply’s over-collection of personal information adds to the power of the real estate industry in the competitive rental market, Carly Kind says

the Guardian (www.theguardian.com)

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