Source: Privacy Commissioner
Privacy Commissioner John Edwards welcomed Parliament passing the Privacy Act 2020 with unanimous support. The new Act replaces the 27-year-old Privacy Act 1993. Many of the changes are based on recommendations from the Law Commissions comprehensive 2011 review of New Zealands privacy laws. The new Privacy Act provides a modernised framework to better protect New Zealanders privacy rights in todays environment, Mr Edwards said. I am grateful for the cross-party support of Parliament on this issue. It is an endorsement of the significance of privacy as a universal human right that the Bill was passed with the multi-party support of the House.
Key reforms in the new Privacy Act include:
Mandatory notification of harmful privacy breaches. If organisations or businesses have a privacy breach that poses a risk of serious harm, they are required to notify the Privacy Commissioner and affected parties.
