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PRIVACY AND THE CONSUMER

Privacy Issues Forum30 March 2006

David RussellChief Executive

Consumers’ Institute NZ

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Competing demands of privacy protection

• Individual rights

• Commercial imperatives

• Effective operation of a modern democratic society.

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Sector specific areas

• Health

• Finance – in particular, banking

• Electronic trading

• Local government

• There are more, but another day.

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Health (continued)

• Whose information is it?

• Who holds the information?

• Who processes the information?

• US example of Pakistan data-entry person threatening to reveal patient records from a San Francisco medical centre

• Balance between freedom and protection of information.

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Finance

• Growing concern with new systems and in particular, internet banking

• Credit Reporting Privacy Code good step in consumer protection

• However, we must watch our backs – a review of the Banking Code of Practice attempted to place greater responsibility on the customer for security of information.

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Electronic trading

• Almost all commercial deals are now assisted by high tech systems

• Ability to collect, cross reference and distribute is known to the point of tedium

• Nevertheless, more education is needed

• Aggregated, sales information can be good

• Individual, identifiable purchaser information bad – the tricks range from sharp to crooked.

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Local Authorities

• Every bit as good as health sector at hiding behind Privacy Act as reason not to disclose information

• Every bit as good as cunning marketers at collecting and selling information

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Codes of Practice

• To be encouraged

• Allow greater flexibility for change

• Keep up with the real world

• Allow for community as well as commercial impact

• Consumers must know they are there.