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Inquiry report: FRT trial

The Privacy Commissioner has released his report about Foodstuffs North Island’s trial use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT).

He has found that the use of FRT during the trial complied with the Privacy Act. However, those thinking of using it in the future need to ensure it is implemented after careful consideration, and with appropriate guardrails, to stay within the law.

The purpose of the Inquiry was to understand FRT’s privacy impacts as it was implemented by Foodstuffs and its compliance with the Privacy Act. It also evaluated whether it was effective in reducing serious retail crime compared with other less privacy-intrusive options.

Learn more about the FRT Inquiry and read the full report. 

New resources to protect children and young people's privacy

We've added several new pieces of guidance as part of our Children's Privacy Project. 

New photography and filming guidance when working with children and young people(external link) has been developed to help organisations protect and respect children and young people’s privacy. This guidance will help to empower them, their parents and caregivers to understand and exercise their privacy rights effectively.

We have also developed other guidance to help those working in the children’s sector, including how to apply best practice privacy when responding to requests for a child or young person’s personal information, and how to help children, young people and their parents protect their privacy while exploring the online world.

Make a privacy complaint

We're keen to work with New Zealanders to get their privacy queries and complaints sorted quickly and fairly. Before you complain to us, you need to complain directly to the business or organisation that you feel has breached your privacy.

If you haven’t been able to work out your privacy issue with them, then you can complain to us. We aim to ensure that you're treated fairly, whatever your background or circumstances. We work in accordance with the Human Rights Act 1993.

• Read our tips about using AI to contact us
• Lodge a privacy issue with another agency(external link).
• Use our Response Date Calculator for access and correction requests.
• Answer your questions about privacy breaches.
• Fill in our online enquiry form.
• Make a privacy complaint to us(external link).

Being affected by a privacy breach can be distressing and emotionally harmful. Read about managing your mental distress.

We review all the complaints we receive. If we can resolve them quickly, we will. If your case requires a complicated or comprehensive investigation, then owing to high volumes, the wait time for an investigator is up to six months.

Use our free e-learning tools

We can help you and your workmates learn about privacy, or sharpen your skills with our free e-learning tools. There are 10 free courses to choose from, and they are all run as online learning modules. Learn at your own pace and receive a certificate of completion.

Topics range from Privacy 101 to specialist topics like health and education. You can learn more about reporting privacy breaches, approved information sharing agreements (AISA) and more.

Get learning with our e-learning modules(external link).

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Come and work with us

When you work here you’re serving New Zealanders and their right to privacy. We’re a small but mighty Office full of well-read people who are interested in the world and what happens in it. Kindness matters here, which creates a great place to work. Find out more about working here, check for vacancies, and read about our recruitment process.