1 Mar 2016, 09:00

The Privacy Commissioner has published guidance to help local councils enhance privacy in their information-handling practices.

Local councils collect and release  a significant amount of personal information, such as online property and building records. 

Without the proper privacy safeguards, this information can be misused in situations such as stalking, harassment and domestic violence. 

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said, “Complaints to my office in this area have been characterised by two things: people were either unaware that their information was going to be published online, or they could not find an easy way to opt out of their information being published online.” 

In order to help councils build understanding with their ratepayers for the future, the guidance sets high-level expectations such as: 

• The need for a privacy statement telling people what information is being collected, how it will be used and what purpose it will be used for
• Mechanisms to prevent information from being collected or used by third parties for different purposes
• Clear ways for people to remove sensitive information (such as the address of a domestic violence victim)

Mr. Edwards said, “There is tremendous social value in this information being made public, but we need to build in certain safeguards to make sure it doesn’t harm some of the more vulnerable people in society.”

The Privacy Commissioner encourages local councils to approach his office if they are developing or adjusting online property and building records.

The report is available on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s website.  

ENDS

For further information, contact Sam Grover 021 959 050 or email sam.grover@privacy.org.nz.