MEDIA RELEASE
23 September 2010

'Increasingly, risks to New Zealand consumers are coming from other countries,' said Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff. 'This is because New Zealand consumers are as likely to deal with online businesses based half way around the world as with New Zealand companies, in today's digital environment. Even local companies readily resort to storing or processing their information off-shore, including using web services or cloud computing.'

In response to these global challenges, privacy enforcement authorities, including the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, are acting to help protect personal data that is sent between countries by strengthening their arrangements for cooperation across borders.

'This week's announcements of the Global Privacy Enforcement Network and the US Federal Trade Commission's decision to join the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum are significant advances in international privacy cooperation,' said Ms Shroff.

These developments come soon after the recent commencement of APEC's Cross-border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement.

'Global digital business is growing at a startling pace. It's more important than ever that privacy authorities come together to protect consumers,' said Ms Shroff.

ENDS

Current announcements
Global Privacy Enforcement Network: https://www.privacyenforcement.net/

http://www.privacy.org./nz/media-release-US-Federal-Trade-Commission-joins-Asia-Pacific-Privacy-Authorities-Forum

http://www.privacy.org.nz/launch-of-new-apec-cross-border-privacy-enforcement-arrangement/

Contact Cathy Henry on +64 21 509 735