New Zealanders made a record 1,003 privacy complaints to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) in the last financial year, highlighting growing concerns about privacy rights and poor practices across the country.
While the high number of complaints could reflect greater awareness of privacy rights, Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said it is more likely due to poor privacy practices by businesses and organisations. Agencies reported 864 privacy breaches last year, with 414 of those classified as serious.
“No one should be happy we received over 1,000 privacy complaints,” Webster said. “That demonstrates to me that people are concerned their privacy has been harmed, often in quite significant ways.”
The OPC resolved 724 complaints through its “fast resolve” process, quickly helping individuals and advising organisations on compliance. Another 279 complaints required formal investigation due to reaching the harm threshold or involving an agency’s refusal to release personal information. Of these cases, 6.5 percent resulted in financial compensation.
“Thousands of times each day, New Zealanders provide their personal information in exchange for goods and services, whether face-to-face or online. All these exchanges involve privacy.”
Most complaints, 66 percent, involved individuals being denied access to their personal information. Under the Privacy Act, people have the right to know what information an agency holds about them and to access it. When agencies fail to comply, the Privacy Commissioner can issue a directive requiring its release.
“Having access to your own information is an important privacy right, and it’s disappointing agencies are often unwilling or unable to provide it,” Webster said.
The OPC also received 864 privacy breach notifications last year, 414 of which were considered serious. Webster stressed the need for businesses and organisations to improve their privacy practices.
“Part of addressing, and reducing, privacy harm is ensuring that New Zealand businesses and organisations are doing privacy well. Right now, not everyone is.”
