Over the last few months we’ve talked about how our Office is trying to provide more effective and efficient responses when we investigate complaints by taking a practical approach to dispute resolution -  including trying to talk with people more and calling compulsory conferences where appropriate.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner wants to get in front of the looming tech trends, from wearable devices to AI to drones. But is that the best approach? Following a series of tech-related privacy workshops, the OPC is having second thoughts - maybe it's time to take a step back and tackle a few basics? In this post for IITP's Techblog, our Policy and Technology Team Policy Adviser, Tim Henwood, takes a look at our current thinking.

We’ve been grappling with a difficult question recently, and one that’s featured in New Zealand’s courts too. What is and isn’t news media and when should the Privacy Act apply?

Over the past few months, I have visited over 40 government agencies to talk about privacy. In many cases I’ve been impressed by the depth of knowledge that exists across the sector on this topic, although there is still much work to be done.

We get it. As a lawyer, one of the least fun things about your job is chasing the money. Sometimes people just don’t cough up for the service you provide.

Surveillance and privacy is a heady mix. So much has been happening in that space before and since Edward Snowden’s revelations that it can be hard to keep track of the twists and turns and to see the big picture of the issues.

Sharing information about an individual is often essential to their health, safety and wellbeing. We all have a responsibility to make our communities safe and inclusive, especially for vulnerable people such as children. Part of that responsibility is to try and raise the alarm if we see signs of abuse or neglect.

It is exciting for us to be able to finally be able to tell everyone the Identity Conference is returning. The two day event will run two weeks after Privacy Week in May 2015. It will be the third time the Identity Conference has been run.