Found an interesting situation today after being forced to send a fax via the Australian Post Office. I handed the fax over and they handed me a simple form to fill out. At first I thought it was simply the details such as local or international, the fax number etc. However as I continued, it asked for my full name and signature and listed some "terms" that I would agree to by signing the form.

Reading through the simple terms the second one raised my interest when it says you agree to the terms and conditions set out on the Australia Post website! I asked her why I should be signing a form agreeing to terms and conditions that I could not even see. Ironically, the postal worker commented that she had never actually ready any of the forms that people had filled out. I laughed and suggested that the third statement would cover me as it stated I had agreed I understood "to the best of my knowledge" which was the case. :)

This however raised a question in my mind as to why they needed the form at all? My understanding would be that that privacy law says the business cannot keep the record unless it relates to necessary information such as sales, invoices etc. Once the fax has succeeded, why do they need records of who sent it? I mentioned this concern to the postal worker who calmly commented that they never look at them, but the police require them to keep them! Interestingly, it seems big brother wants to know who your sending faxes to and when if you are using the public postal service. The postal worker also commented that if they did not do it, they would get word "from the top" to do it the way the police require.

Call me paranoid, but I see no reason the police need to keep record on who sends faxes and where. If I was sending faxes relating to bombs, terrorist uprisings, etc, then surely the postal workers would pick up on that when sending the fax and call the police immediately. I guess it is just another small chuck on our privacy going and most people don't realise!?