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Understanding the Privacy Act 2020
Section 3 outlines its purpose, which is to promote and protect individual privacy by:
- Providing a framework for protecting an individual’s right to privacy of personal information, including the right of an individual to access their personal information, while recognizing that other rights and interests may at times also need to be taken into account.
- Giving effect to internationally recognized privacy obligations and standards in relation to the privacy of personal information, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(Privacy Act 2020).
Key Principles include:
Relevance to IT Practice
- IT systems must implement robust security measures such as encryption, password protection, and access controls to safeguard personal data (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2020).
- Websites and applications should have clear privacy policies and inform users about what data is collected, why, and how it will be used (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2020).
- Data should be stored securely, with regular backups and restricted access to authorized personnel only (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2020).
- When sharing data with third parties, organizations must obtain user consent and ensure compliance with the Act (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2020).
- Regular audits, staff training, and incident response plans are essential to maintain privacy standards and respond to breaches (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2020).
- IT professionals must ensure that data transferred overseas is protected to New Zealand standards (Privacy Act 2020).
Māori Data Sovereignty
- The Privacy Act 2020 supports Māori data sovereignty, recognizing Māori rights to control data about themselves and their communities.
- Organizations are encouraged to consult with Māori and respect cultural values when collecting, storing, and using Māori data.
- Protecting Māori data in digital environments is vital for maintaining identity, autonomy, and preventing misuse or harm.
- Māori data sovereignty aligns with principles of self-determination and collective benefit, ensuring that Māori have authority over how their data is used and shared.
(Kukutai & Taylor, 2016)