Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog
Welcome to our latest round-up of privacy stories in the news.
Folder with personal details inside left behind on public transport
A government official left a folder behind on Wellington public transport containing the private details of 16 individuals and groups. The lapse took place in March, when a DIA staff member disembarked from public transport but left behind a folder full of submissions. The submissions came from a mixture of individuals and groups, and some of them had already been publicly released. Read more here. (NZ Herald)
Vaccine patients’ personal details potentially exposed
A computer error has potentially allowed Canterbury Covid-19 vaccine patients to see the personal details of hundreds of other people booking appointments to receive the vaccine. Canterbury DHB has issued an apology for what it says was a coding error in the software used in a local Canterbury medical appointment system. Read more here. (NZ Herald)
Corrections looks to smartwatches to track and talk to offenders
The Department of Corrections wants to use smartwatches and wearable drug and alcohol detectors to track people subject to electronic monitoring. The current contract for an ankle bracelet-based system is due to expire in February 2022, but privacy advocates are warning of a potential overreach by the Department if they start rolling out more advanced wearable technology. Read more here. (Stuff)
Health data system fragmented, leaving clinicians and patients in the dark
The Ministry of Health wants to change the way people’s medical records are shared nationwide. The country’s hospital IT systems are so outdated, fragmented, and insecure that it could cost $2.3 billion over the next decade to bring them up to standard. The system’s shortcomings make it difficult for clinicians to get the information they need, and affect patients’ ability to access their own data. Read more here. (Stuff)
Facebook says a breach that hit 533m is ‘old news’, experts disagree
After information from 533 million Facebook users was exposed to hackers, the company has tried to reassure users, saying that the data was leaked years ago and has since been secured. But experts say the issue is still significant because the type of data leaked – including phone numbers, full names, and birthdates – does not often change over time. Read more here. (Guardian)
Image credit: Willow Grouse, or Large Ptarmigan via John James Audubon’s Birds of America
