Talking is an important part of our everyday activity - particularly in the workplace. Morning greetings, general chit-chat with colleagues while getting a cuppa, video conferences, and discussing all manner of things to ensure a successful and quality productive day.  I certainly do a lot of talking in my role as enquiries officer.   

The ongoing issue of New Zealand citizens with criminal records being deported from Australia has prompted questions as to what their privacy rights are under Australian law and whether they can access those rights from New Zealand.

When the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) passed in June of this year, it brought some changes to the Privacy Act. One of these changes was to section 56, which previously excluded personal, family and household affairs from coverage by the Privacy Act. The effect is that we can now investigate cases stemming from domestic affairs, where the subject matter would be “highly offensive to an ordinary reasonable person”.

We are delighted that one of our team leaders has been recognised for being a leading mediator. Riki Jamieson-Smyth was recently honoured by her peers for her highly effective work as a dispute resolution practitioner.

A complainant seeking $100,000 in damages for Westpac’s disclosure of a debit card statement to his employer has had his case dismissed by the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

It might sound strange but complaints are the lifeblood of our office. We receive them, vet them and investigate them. And because we are the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, people need to have absolute confidence in the security of our complaints process.

Like many I woke last Thursday to the horrific news of the live on air execution of a US journalist and her cameraman, and subsequent suicide of their disgruntled former colleague. The killings were captured on digital video and broadcast first by the victims, and then by the shooter, who uploaded his “first person” footage to social media before taking his own life.

The Human Rights Review Tribunal says a former Massey University extramural student society president suffered humiliation and significant injury to her feelings after a private letter addressed to her was leaked to a student magazine.