Suppression of Aircraft Data from Third-Party Flight Tracking Platforms
Ben Fairless made this Freedom of Information request to Victoria Police as part of a batch sent to 15 authorities
Dear Victoria Police,
I am seeking access to documents relating to the removal, suppression, or anonymisation of aircraft data from third-party flight tracking services such as FlightRadar24, PlaneFinder, ADS-B Exchange, or similar platforms.
Specifically, I’m after:
1. Policies, procedures, or internal guidelines concerning requests to third-party services for the removal or suppression of aircraft tracking data;
2. Correspondence between your agency and third-party flight tracking platforms relating to the suppression, removal, or anonymisation of aircraft data;
3. Internal discussions, briefings, or records outlining the rationale or decisions around seeking to suppress aircraft data from public tracking platforms;
4. Statistics, reports, or summaries indicating the volume and nature of requests made to third-party platforms over the past five years;
5. Any agreements, memoranda of understanding, or formal arrangements between your agency and third-party flight tracking platforms relating to data suppression or visibility restrictions.
I am not seeking access to the personal information of members of the public, nor do I require the direct contact details or last names of public servants below the Senior Executive Service level (or equivalent for your agency).
I have submitted this request to multiple state and federal agencies. Please contact me before initiating any transfer to another agency as they may have already received an identical request.
Please consider if it’s possible to process this request informally/administratively. If you find it can’t be treated that way, please consider it a formal Freedom of Information request.
Yours faithfully,
Ben Fairless
This office is experiencing considerable delays in responding to requests and correspondence. We strongly suggest making your request online (via the link below) or sending any correspondence to this email address ([VICPOL request email]).
Online link:
https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
If your enquiry is regarding the progress of a submitted request, please note this office is currently experiencing a significant increase in workload. As a result, there are delays in completing requests which is on average 36 weeks after the due date.
We are endeavouring to process requests in order of receipt. This office will therefore not be responding to individual queries regarding delays in order to facilitate the processing of requests.
Please note you have the right to complain to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) if you are concerned with the delay. OVIC can be contacted by email at [email address]
For further information regarding the Freedom of Information Division at Victoria Police please visit our webpage: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/freedom-in...
We appreciate your understanding during this time.
Freedom of Information Division
Governance and Assurance Department | Victoria Police
Address: 311 Spencer Street, Docklands VIC 3008
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OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Good afternoon,
Please find attached letter in relation to your Freedom of Information
request.
If you have any queries or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact this
office via email at [1][VICPOL request email]
Regards,
Freedom of Information Division
Investment, Governance and Assurance Department | Victoria Police
Address: 311 Spencer Street, Docklands VIC 3008
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The contents of this email and any attachments are for the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential, privileged, copyright and/or
personal information.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender
immediately and permanently delete and/or destroy this email and all
attachments. Any other use, disclosure, or handling of this email and/or
any attachments is unauthorised.
Victoria Police does not represent or warrant that this email and any
attachments are free from computer viruses and/or other defects. To the
extent permitted by law, Victoria Police excludes all liability arising
from or in connection with any computer viruses, defects and/or any
unauthorised use, disclosure and/or handling of this email and/or any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[VICPOL request email]
Dear FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR,
Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in responding. Is it possible to obtain the information I’m after without a formal FOI request?
Yours sincerely,
Ben Fairless
This office is experiencing considerable delays in responding to requests and correspondence. We strongly suggest making your request online (via the link below) or sending any correspondence to this email address ([VICPOL request email]).
Online link:
https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
If your enquiry is regarding the progress of a submitted request, please note this office is currently experiencing a significant increase in workload. As a result, there are delays in completing requests which is on average 36 weeks after the due date.
We are endeavouring to process requests in order of receipt. This office will therefore not be responding to individual queries regarding delays in order to facilitate the processing of requests.
Please note you have the right to complain to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) if you are concerned with the delay. OVIC can be contacted by email at [email address]
We appreciate your understanding during this time.
Freedom of Information Division
Governance and Assurance Department | Victoria Police
Address: 311 Spencer Street, Docklands VIC 3008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The contents of this email and any attachments are for the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential, privileged, copyright and/or
personal information.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender
immediately and permanently delete and/or destroy this email and all
attachments. Any other use, disclosure, or handling of this email and/or
any attachments is unauthorised.
Victoria Police does not represent or warrant that this email and any
attachments are free from computer viruses and/or other defects. To the
extent permitted by law, Victoria Police excludes all liability arising
from or in connection with any computer viruses, defects and/or any
unauthorised use, disclosure and/or handling of this email and/or any
attachments.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your email.
Yes, I can confirm that in order to access this information you are required to submit a valid Freedom of Information request.
I wish to remind you that in order to make your request (ref number 92903) valid our office requires either the payment of the application fee or documentary evidence to support a waiver of this fee. Further details can be found on the letter that was emailed to you on 15 May 2025.
If you have any other questions please let me know.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information Division
Governance and Assurance Department +AHw- Victoria Police
VPC 311 Spencer Street Docklands 3008
+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-
E-mail: foi+AEA-police.vic.gov.au
Web: www.police.vic.gov.au
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Fairless +ADw-foi+-request-13081-28911077+AEA-righttoknow.org.au+AD4-
Sent: Wednesday, 4 June 2025 12:06 PM
To: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR +ADw-foi+AEA-police.vic.gov.au+AD4-
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Request - Ben FAIRLESS - 92903
CAUTION: This email originated outside of Victoria Police. Do not click or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and you are confident you know the content of this email is safe. If you suspect this email is malicious, please report it using the report message add-in on the tool bar and select +IBg-Phishing+IBk-.
Dear FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR,
Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in responding. Is it possible to obtain the information I+IBk-m after without a formal FOI request?
Yours sincerely,
Ben Fairless
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Good afternoon,
Please find attached letter in relation to your Freedom of Information
request.
If you have any queries or concerns please don+IBk-t hesitate to contact this
office via email at +AFs-1+AF0AWw-VICPOL request email+AF0-
Regards,
Freedom of Information Division
Investment, Governance and Assurance Department +AHw- Victoria Police
Address: 311 Spencer Street, Docklands VIC 3008
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
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