Associate Professor Katharine Kemp

Associate Professor Katharine Kemp

Associate Professor

BCom, LLB (Hons) (Qld), LLM (Stellenbosch), PhD ()

Law & Justice
School of Global & Public Law

A/Prof Katharine Kemp is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law & Justice, Sydney, and leads the Public Interest Law & Tech Initiative. 

Katharine’s research focuses on competition, data privacy and consumer protection regulation. She has published widely in these fields, including "Misuse of Market Power: Rationale and Reform" (Cambridge University Press), "Competition Law of South Africa" (LexisNexis) with PJ Sutherland, and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. In 2023, she was awarded the Emerging Leader Award at the national Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards. 

Her advisory and editorial roles include representing Australia as a Non-Government Advisor to the International Competition Network, and acting as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Future of Finance Initiative in India, the Advisory Panel for Consumer Policy Research Centre and the Editorial Board of TechREG Chronicle, published by Competition Policy International.

She also convenes and lectures the Data Privacy Law course; the postgraduate course, Financial Law and Regulation in the Age of Fintech; and Contracts at Law.

Before joining the faculty, Katharine was a Research Fellow on the Digital Financial Services Research Team, conducting in-depth research into the regulation of digital financial services in developing countries in particular. 

She has also practised as a commercial lawyer at Allens, as a barrister in Melbourne, and consulted to the Competition Commission of South Africa during the six years that she lived and worked in South Africa. 

  • Books | 2018
    Kemp K, 2018, Misuse of Market Power: Rationale and Reform, Cambridge University Press,
    Books | 2000
    Sutherland P; Kemp K, 2000, Competition Law of South Africa Service
  • Book Chapters | 2023
    Kemp K; Camp M, 2023, 'Damage and Deterrence: Pecuniary Penalties under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (forthcoming)', in Kayiz D; Walpole S (ed.), The Law of Civil Penalties, Federation Press
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Kemp K; Camp M, 2023, 'Pecuniary Penalties under the Privacy Act: Damage and Deterrence', in Kayis D; Gluer E; Walpole S (ed.), The Law of Civil Penalties, The Federation Press
  • Journal articles | 2022
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, 2022, 'Australia's Privacy Act Discussion Paper: 'All that is solid melts into air'', Privacy Laws & Business International Report, Feb 2022, pp. 22 - 26
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, 'Strengthening Enforcement and Redress Under the Australian Privacy Act', Global Privacy Law Review, 3, pp. 150 - 162
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, '‘A rose by any other unique identifier’: Regulating consumer data tracking and anonymisation claims', Competition Policy International TechREG Chronicle, pp. 21 - 29,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, 2021, 'Australia’s ‘COVIDSafe’ law for contact tracing: an experiment in surveillance and trust', International Data Privacy Law, 11, pp. 257 - 275,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, 'Causation in Misuse of Market Power Claims under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)', Australian Business Law Review, 49, pp. 208 - 229
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, 'Why Use Consumer Protection Regulation to Target Misleading Representations about Privacy? The Australian Case Against Google', Communications Law - Journal of Computer, Media and Telecommunications Law, 26,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, 2020, 'Australia's 'COVIDSafe' Law for a Voluntary Contact Tracing App', Privacy Laws & Business International Report, pp. 1 - 6
    Journal articles | 2020
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, 2020, 'Australia’s COVIDSafe Experiment, Phase III: Legislation for Trust in Contact Tracing', SSRN Electronic Journal,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2020, 'Competition and consumer watchdog spurs Australian privacy changes', Privacy Laws & Business International Report, pp. 25 - 28
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, 'Australia’s draft News Media Bargaining Code', Competition Law International, 16
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, 'Concealed data practices and competition law: why privacy matters', European Competition Journal, pp. 628 - 672,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Didenko A; Kemp K; Malady L; Buckley RP, 2018, 'Restricted Banking Licences: An Opportunity to Be Seized', Journal of Banking & Finance Law and Practice, 29, pp. 57 - 66,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kemp K, 2018, 'Misuse of Market Power in Australia and Abuse of Dominance in Canada: Two Legislated Effects Tests for Unilateral Conduct', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF COMPETITION AND CONSUMER LAW, 26, pp. 174 - 192,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kemp KR, 2018, 'Misuse of Market Power in Australia and Abuse of Dominance in Canada: Two Legislated Effects Tests for Unilateral Conduct', Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kemp K; Buckley RP, 2017, 'Protecting Financial Consumer Data in Developing Countries: An Alternative to the Flawed Consent Model', Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 18, pp. 35 - 46,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kemp K; Buckley RP, 2017, 'Resolution Powers Over E-Money Providers', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 40, pp. 1539 - 1557,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kemp KR, 2017, ''The Big Chill'? A Comparative Analysis of Effects-Based Tests for Misuse of Market Power', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 40, pp. 493 - 493,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kemp KR, 2017, 'A Unifying Standard for Monopolization: Objective Anti competitive Purpose', Houston Journal of International Law, 39, pp. 113 - 113
    Journal articles | 2016
    Kemp KR, 2016, 'Taking Advantage' and Other Profit-Focused Tests for Unilateral Anticompetitive Conduct', Monash University Law Review, 41, pp. 655 - 695
    Journal articles | 2015
    Kemp KR, 2015, 'The case against 'French J's Arsonist'', Australian Business Law Review, 43, pp. 228 - 228,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Kemp KR, 2014, 'Uncovering the Roots of Australia’s Misuse of Market Power Provision: Is it Time to Reconsider?', Australian Business Law Review, 42, pp. 329
    Journal articles | 2005
    Kemp K, 2005, 'The Significance of Consideration Paid for Post-employment Restraints in England and Germany', Stellenbosch Law Review, 16, pp. 257 - 257
  • Reports | 2024
    Kemp K; Gupta C; Campbell M, 2024, Singled out – Consumer understanding — and misunderstanding — of data broking, data privacy, and what it means for them, Consumer Policy Research Centre,
    Other | 2023
    Bennett Moses L; Kemp K; Lee A; Manwaring K; Nicholls R, 2023, Submission to DISR re Supporting responsible AI Discussion paper ( Allens Hub and Business RegLab), ,
    Reports | 2023
    Bennett Moses L; Kemp K; Lee A; Manwaring K; Nicholls R, 2023, Submission to Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (Parliament of South Australia),
    Reports | 2023
    Bennett Moses L; Kemp K; Lee A; Manwaring K; Nicholls R, 2023, Allens Hub Submission into Inquiry into Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New South Wales,
    Reports | 2023
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2023, Ignoring Privacy Practices Would Distort Data Broker Issues (Submission on Digital Platform Services Inquiry - March 2024 Report on Data Brokers - Issues Paper), ,
    Reports | 2023
    Kemp K, 2023, Ending the Fictions in Modern Data Practices: Submission in Response to the Privacy Act Review Report, ,
    Reports | 2023
    Kemp K, 2023, Your Body, Our Data: Unfair and Unsafe Privacy Practices of Popular Fertility Apps, ,
    Reports | 2022
    Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2022, Balancing the Competition, Consumer Protection and Privacy Regulation of Digital Platforms: Submission in response to the ACCC Digital Platform Services Inquiry Discussion Paper on Updating Competition and Consumer Law for Digital Platform Services, Submission in response to the ACCC Digital Platform Services Inquiry Discussion Paper on Updating Competition and Consumer Law for Digital Platform Services,
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, 'Abuse of Dominance in Digital Markets', Sydney, presented at Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 21 May 2022,
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, 'How to Track Consumers Who Don’t Want to be Tracked: Examples from Australia’s Largest Media Companies and their Suppliers', Sydney, presented at ACCC National Consumer Congress, Sydney, 16 June 2022,
    Reports | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, Submission to the Attorney General's Department on the Privacy Act Review Discussion Paper,
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, 'Competition Policy Challenges in the Digital Era: The Race to Regulate', presented at Competition Policy Challenges in the Digital Era, Centre for Global Business, Monash University, 19 November 2021 - 19 November 2021
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, 'E-commerce as a Vehicle for Inclusive Global Economy', presented at CUTS International “Competition, Regulation and Development” 7th Biennial Conference, 17 November 2021,
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, 'Regulation and Innovation in Digital Markets', presented at Plenary Session, Law Council of Australia Competition & Consumer Law Committee Annual Workshop, 27 August 2021
    Reports | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, Submission to the Attorney-General’s Department in response to the Online Privacy Bill Exposure Draft,
    Reports | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, The Absence of Competition in the Privacy Terms of Online Marketplaces: Submission in Response to the ACCC General Online Retail Marketplaces Issues Paper, Digital Platform Services Inquiry,
    Reports | 2021
    Manwaring K; Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2021, (mis)Informed Consent in Australia (Report for iappANZ, 31 March 2021), orks, Sydney, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Bennett Moses L; Chappell L; Churches G; Zalnieriute M; Byrnes A; Scully JL; Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2020, Submission to Federal Attorney General, Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020,
    Reports | 2020
    Bennett Moses L; Churches G; Zalnieriute M; Byrnes A; Scully J; Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2020, COVIDSafe App - Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights,
    Reports | 2020
    Bennett Moses L; Churches G; Zalnieriute M; Byrnes A; Scully J; Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2020, Submission to Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 re Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020,
    Reports | 2020
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, 2020, Australia’s ‘COVIDSafe App’: An Experiment in Surveillance, Trust and Law, University of New South Wales Law Research Series 999,
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, 'Concealed Data Practices and Competition Law', New York University, New York, USA, presented at NYU/ABA Next Generation of Antitrust, Data Privacy and Data Protection Scholars Conference, New York University, New York, USA, 29 January 2020
    Conference Presentations | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, 'Misuse of Market Power – What an ‘Effects Test’ Would Mean for New Zealand?', presented at Competition Law & Policy Institute of New Zealand, 19 August 2020
    Conference Presentations | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, 'Remedies for Unilateral Anticompetitive Conduct in Digital Markets', presented at Plenary Session, International Competition Network Annual Conference, Washington DC, 16 September 2020
    Reports | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, Submission in Response to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Ad Tech Inquiry Issues Paper,
    Reports | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, Submission to the Attorney General's Department on the Privacy Act Review Issues Paper,
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, Trust Exercise: Grand Challenge on Trust Podcast Series, Editor(s): Kemp K, Published: 01 December 2020, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works,
    Reports | 2019
    Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2019, Submission in response to ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry Draft Report
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Kemp K, 2019, 'Substantial Lessening of Competition under the New Section 46: Will We Know it When We See it?', Sydney, presented at Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 25 May 2019
    Reports | 2019
    Kemp K, 2019, Submission on the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry Final Report,
    Reports | 2019
    Kemp K, 2019, Submission on the Digital Platform Inquiry: FInal Report
    Other | 2018
    Bennett Moses L; Buckley R; Johns F; Greenleaf G; Kemp K; De Leeuw M; Manwaring K; Maurushat A; Zalnieriute M, 2018, Response to Issues Paper on Data Sharing and Release, ,
    Reports | 2018
    Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2018, Submission to the Australian Treasury on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2018 - Exposure Draft,
    Reports | 2018
    Kemp K; Vaile D, 2018, Submission to the Australian Treasury on the Review into Open Banking in Australia Final Report,
    Reports | 2017
    Kemp K; Didenko A; Malady L; Buckley R, 2017, Submission on the APRA Discussion Paper on Licensing: A Phased Approach to Authorising New Entrants to the Banking Industry
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Kemp K, 2017, 'The Next Chapter in Australia's Misuse of Market Power Law: Are We Killing the Tiger While it is Young?', Sydney, presented at Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 06 May 2017 - 06 May 2017
    Reports | 2016
    Kemp K, 2016, Submission to the Australian Treasury on Options to Strengthen the Misuse of Market Power Law Discussion Paper, “A Third Way: Objective Anticompetitive Purpose”
    Reports | 2016
    Kemp K, 2016, Submission to the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment on the Targeted Review of the Commerce Act 1986 Issues Paper, “A Third Way: Objective Anticompetitive Purpose”
    Reports | 2015
    Kemp K; Didenko A; Malady L; Buckley R, 2015, Submission to the Australian Payments Plan Consultation: Shaping the Future of Australian Payments
    Reports | 2014
    Kemp K, 2014, Submission to the Competition Policy Review Committee, "The Under-Inclusive "Take Advantage" Standard, a Proposal for an Onus-Shifting Approach and the Canadian SLC Alternative"
    Other |
    Bennett Moses L; Buckley RP; Johns FE; Greenleaf G; Kemp K; De Leeuw M; Manwaring K; Maurushat A; Zalnieriute M, Response to Issues Paper on Data Sharing and Release, Elsevier BV, ,
    Preprints |
    Bennett Moses L; Churches G; Zalnieriute M; Byrnes AC; Scully JL; Kemp K; Greenleaf G, COVIDSafe App - Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, ,
    Preprints |
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, COVID & Digital Surveillance: Common Legislative Protections for Proximity Apps, Attendance Tracking, and Status Certificates (Part II) (Presentation Slides), ,
    Preprints |
    Greenleaf G; Kemp K, Police Access to COVID Check-In Data Is An Affront to Our Privacy. We Need Stronger and More Consistent Rules in Place, ,
    Preprints |
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, COVID Digital Surveillance: Common Legislative Protections for Proximity Apps, Attendance Tracking, and Status Certificates (Part I) (Presentation Slides), ,
    Preprints |
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, Competition and Consumer Watchdog Spurs Australian Privacy Changes, ,
    Preprints |
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, Ignoring Privacy Practices Would Distort Data Broker Issues (Submission on Digital Platform Services Inquiry - March 2024 Report on Data Brokers - Issues Paper), ,
    Reports |
    Kemp K, The South African Example: A Legislated Effects-Based Test and Efficiency Defence for Misuse of Market Power, Elsevier BV, ,
  • Media | 2022
    Kemp K, 2022, The ACCC is suing Meta for celebrity crypto scam ads on Facebook. Here’s why the tech giant could be found liable, ,
    Media | 2022
    Parker G; Kemp K, 2022, 'Are you okay with this?’ Facial recognition of unsuspecting customers prompts privacy warning, ,
    Media | 2022
    Rubinstein M; Kemp K, 2022, Competition vs Privacy with Dr Katharine Kemp, ,
    Media | 2021
    Kemp K, 2021, A new proposed privacy code promises tough rules and $10 million penalties for tech giants, ,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K; Greenleaf G, 2020, The COVIDSafe bill doesn’t go far enough to protect our privacy. Here’s what needs to change, ,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K; Manwaring K, 2020, Australia’s privacy watchdog is taking Facebook to court. It’s a good start,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2020, No more negotiating: new rules could finally force Google and Facebook to pay for news, ,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, Every step you take: why Google’s plan to buy Fitbit has the ACCC’s pulse racing, ,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, The ACCC is suing Google for misleading millions. But calling it out is easier than fixing it, ,
    Media | 2020
    Kemp K, 2020, The US is taking on Google in a huge antitrust case. It could change the face of online search, ,
    Media | 2020
    Newman C; Kemp K, 2020, Trust in digital health and health researchers, ,
    Media | 2020
    Newman C; Kemp K, 2020, Trust, sexuality and gender diversity, ,
    Media | 2019
    Kemp K; Nicholls R, 2019, The federal government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry is a let down, ,
    Media | 2019
    Kemp K, 2019, Here’s how tech giants profit from invading our privacy, and how we can start taking it back, ,
    Media | 2019
    Kemp K, 2019, The ACCC is suing Google over tracking users. Here’s why it matters, ,
    Media | 2019
    Nicholls R; Kemp K, 2019, Consumer watchdog calls for new measures to combat Facebook and Google’s digital dominance, ,
    Media | 2018
    Kemp K; Vaile D, 2018, Soft terms like ‘open’ and ‘sharing’ don’t tell the true story of your data, ,
    Media | 2018
    Kemp K, 2018, 94% of Australians do not read all privacy policies that apply to them – and that’s rational behaviour, ,
    Media | 2018
    Kemp K, 2018, ACCC wants to curb digital platform power – but enforcement is tricky, ,

2023 - Emerging Leader Award, national Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards

2021 – 2022 - Non-Resident Research Fellow, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law - Institute of Consumer Antitrust Studies Research project on competition policy and data privacy regulation.

2019 – 2020 - Law Impact & Engagement Fellowship led research on the need for an unfair trade practices prohibition in Australia, following the award of competitive funding.

2016 - PhD Excellence Award for a dissertation receiving the highest available grades.

2015 - Garth Nettheim Doctoral Teaching Fellowship

2014 - Gaire Blunt Scholarship awarded by the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia for a paper on competition law.

2014 - Bruce Kercher Scholarship awarded by the Australia and New Zealand Law and History Society to present a paper on the history of Australian competition law at the Society’s annual conference.

2013 – 2016 - Australian Postgraduate Award

2013 – 2016 - Law Faculty Top-Up Scholarship, for top-ranking Australian Postgraduate Award recipients

My Research Supervision

Sriram Srikumar - PhD - The legal treatment of "formless" data used in automated decision systems (with Prof Lyria Bennett-Moses)

Kennedy Chege - PhD - The regulation of cartel conduct in the petroleum industry (with Prof Hanri Mostert)

My Teaching

Data Privacy Law LAWS3250 JURD7550

Financial Law and Regulation in the Age of Fintech

Contracts LAWS1075

Principles of Private Law LAWS 1150 JURD7150