Reports of privacy breaches among Māori are on the rise, and they continue to be highly anxious about facial recognition and public institutions’ use of data, according to the annual survey by the Privacy Commissioner.
The survey also reveals that nearly half (47%) of all New Zealanders are worried about their individual privacy and the protection of personal information. Most (62%) are worried about how social media companies are managing their information and nearly seven out of 10 are uneasy about their children’s privacy on social media.
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says the public want to know how their personal information is being handled. “More people are worried about the impact of technology on their privacy and are questioning what their personal information is being used for, and why.”
More than 60% of survey respondents said they were on edge about government or businesses using AI to make decisions.
The results show the public’s awareness of the Privacy Act is improving and there is increasing support for expanding the commissioner’s powers, including his ability to apply penalties. However, Māori respondents were less supportive of formal privacy audits.
Two-thirds of respondents said they would consider changing service providers if they felt their privacy practices were not up to the mark. Māori were more likely than others to make the switch.
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