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

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An online rental platform has been urged to stop collecting users’ personal information after the Australian privacy commissioner found the gathering of “excessive” data compounded the vulnerability of tenants amid the housing crisis.

RentTech platforms are increasingly used by real estate agents in Australia for people applying for rental properties to submit applications and supporting documentation. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has identified 57 different rent platforms operating in Australia.