Office of the Privacy Commissioner

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Our laws around DNA are out of date.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

Treating abortion as a health issue Vanessa Blackwood
23 November 2018 at 11:16

The Law Commission last month released its briefing to the Minister of Justice providing advice on abortion law reform.

health, Health Information Privacy Code

Cautionary tale of getting policy settings right Colin Trotter
15 November 2018 at 15:03

Keeping privacy front of mind when developing policy and designing new processes or systems helps deliver good outcomes while maintaining individual privacy interests.

health, International

Disclosing mental health information Charles Mabbett
8 November 2018 at 15:52

As a government inquiry into mental health and addiction concludes later this month, we thought it was an opportune moment to discuss some of the common concerns that can arise about disclosing mental health information.

health, Health Information Privacy Code, IPP11 - disclosure

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

Genealogy surprises are not always welcome Charles Mabbett
12 September 2018 at 13:58

Genealogy is apparently the second most popular hobby in the United States, after gardening. In New Zealand, we’ve also seen a growing interest in tracing one’s ancestry. It has become a much discussed topic in online forums and the news media. Some of this boom has been driven by the ease with which people can submit the DNA information to find matches via genealogical websites such as Ancestry.com.

biometrics, health

Introducing Health ABC Sam Grover
7 August 2018 at 16:26

Letters in the wrong envelope, sensitive documents left on a photocopier, an autofill error in an email - these are some of the most common privacy breaches, and have been since the Privacy Act was passed in 1993.

Health Information Privacy Code, 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

Viewing entries tagged with 'health'

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

Treating abortion as a health issue Vanessa Blackwood 23 November 2018 at 11:16

Cautionary tale of getting policy settings right Colin Trotter 15 November 2018 at 15:03

Disclosing mental health information Charles Mabbett 8 November 2018 at 15:52

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

Genealogy surprises are not always welcome Charles Mabbett 12 September 2018 at 13:58

Introducing Health ABC Sam Grover 7 August 2018 at 16:26

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

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

Treating abortion as a health issue Vanessa Blackwood
23 November 2018 at 11:16

Cautionary tale of getting policy settings right Colin Trotter
15 November 2018 at 15:03

Disclosing mental health information Charles Mabbett
8 November 2018 at 15:52

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

Genealogy surprises are not always welcome Charles Mabbett
12 September 2018 at 13:58

Introducing Health ABC Sam Grover
7 August 2018 at 16:26

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