Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Your DNA is only a click away: Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer
6 August 2019 at 09:53

Since 2007, companies like 23andMe.com and Ancestry.com have made at-home DNA testing kits accessible to the masses. Through a simple online order, you can receive a kit, provide a saliva sample and return it to the company for analysis.

health, data

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood
24 May 2019 at 09:18

We’ve all seen the ads for genetic ancestry testing - as a way for people to trace their genealogy beyond traditional family trees and historical detail. And thanks to shows like CSI, the public might think of DNA as an investigative tool for the Police; a silver bullet that can solve any high-profile case in just minutes. But DNA can be used for much more than law enforcement activities or tracing ancestry.

Health Information Privacy Code, health

Genetic informants are watching you Richard Stephen
22 March 2019 at 16:21

Our laws around DNA are out of date. They were written in 1995 and amended in 2003 and 2009. But science keeps moving swiftly on, and DNA is being used in ways which were never imagined. Society has also moved on and there are concerns our current laws do not adequately recognise concerns about privacy, human rights, and tikanga Māori.

law enforcement, health

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett
27 September 2018 at 10:59

Police in some overseas countries have begun using genealogical websites to solve crime. But are Police here using similar techniques to identify crime suspects? The answer is no.

law enforcement, health

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Generally the Privacy Act doesn’t apply to deceased people. This is because the Privacy Act protects the rights of “individuals”, and section 2 of the Act defines an individual as a “natural person, other than a deceased person”.

complaints, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson
5 April 2018 at 16:54

A recent data breach incident provided an example of how your responsibility to protect personal information does not end when you put the rubbish out for collection.

health, data, breach

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood
2 March 2018 at 10:18

This blog post was reviewed and updated in March 2025.

Health Information Privacy Code, health

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14

If you work in a small practice or medical centre, there’s every chance you may not have received many requests for personal information from patients. The starting point is to know that the Privacy Act gives people the right to make a request for information that is about them.

health, Health Information Privacy Code, complaints

Viewing entries tagged with 'health'

Your DNA is only a click away: Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer 6 August 2019 at 09:53

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood 24 May 2019 at 09:18

Genetic informants are watching you Richard Stephen 22 March 2019 at 16:21

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett 27 September 2018 at 10:59

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen 24 July 2018 at 08:51

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson 5 April 2018 at 16:54

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood 2 March 2018 at 10:18

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett 13 February 2018 at 12:14

Your DNA is only a click away: Home DNA tests and privacy Feilidh Dwyer
6 August 2019 at 09:53

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health Vee Blackwood
24 May 2019 at 09:18

Genetic informants are watching you Richard Stephen
22 March 2019 at 16:21

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett
27 September 2018 at 10:59

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Breach Case 7: Rubbishing privacy Neil Sanson
5 April 2018 at 16:54

Handling health information of intersex individuals Vanessa Blackwood
2 March 2018 at 10:18

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14