The Australian Privacy Principles set out how Commonwealth public sector agencies and private sector organisations should collect, use, keep secure and disclose personal information. The principles give individuals a right to know what information an organisation holds about them and a right to correct that information if it is wrong.

The APPs relate to collection, use, disclosure, quality, security, openness, access to and correction of personal information, including sensitive information and health information. There are also principles on the use of government identifiers, the right to remain anonymous, the flow of data across borders.