David Cunliffe
Labour Leader

7 October 2013

Govt must tread carefully on data sharing

There must be tight rules around increasing information sharing between Crown agencies given that almost 100,000 Kiwis have had their personal details accidently released under this Government, Labour Leader and ICT spokesperson David Cunliffe says.

“It will send a chill down the spines of many of those who have had their personal information mistakenly released that the Government is exploring new data sharing agreements involving 32 agencies.

“This Government has a terrible record on protecting Kiwis’ privacy. The more information is kept by government departments, the greater the risk of private information being wrongly released.

“Problems at the Earthquake Commission and Inland Revenue show government IT systems aren’t up to scratch.

“One breach is too many. Almost 100,000 is sheer negligence.

“Polls show more than 60 per cent of New Zealanders don’t trust government departments to protect their personal details.

“Kiwis already feel the Government is peering over their shoulders after revelations the Government Communications Security Bureau illegally spied on 88 people. The Government needs to assure them their private details don’t become the next news story,” David Cunliffe says.

Major Privacy Breaches:
Inland Revenue – 2012 – 6,300 people affected.
ACC – March 2012 -- 6,700 people affected.
Work and Income – October 2012 -- 1432 people affected.
Ministry for the Environment – March 2013 – 150 people affected.
Earthquake Commission – March 2013 -- 83,000 households affected.
Earthquake Commission – September 2013 – 260 people affected.
Immigration New Zealand – 2013 -- 200 advisers and lawyers sent private client information.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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