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privacy

EditorialOctober 7

Tread carefully on privacy issues

Millions of private details are being swapped between government agencies, including names, birth dates, incomes, IRD numbers, citizenship details, travel plans, ACC claims, home addresses and phone numbers.
EditorialAugust 7

Looking into privacy matters

Whether or not they are immediately recognised as such, issues pertaining to privacy are to the fore in today's fast-changing, connected, digital world. It need not take a United Kingdom phone-hacking scandal to remind us of this.
EditorialMay 1

Privacy rights and the press

Winding its slow way through the English courts is a matter with the most serious implications for British press freedom.
NationalDecember 2

Privacy Commissioner to host international forum

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff will host privacy leaders from around the Asia-Pacific, including the United States and Mexico, next week to discuss international data protection issues.
NationalDecember 2

Increase in complaints, inquiries to Privacy Commissioner

An increase in complaints and inquiries to Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff is partly due to information collected by Google.
BusinessNovember 1

Privacy endangered notion

Voyeurism has gone global on the internet but the recent suicide of a United States freshman after another student allegedly used a webcam to broadcast his sexual encounters in his dorm room has raised the stakes considerably. Technology writer Dene Mackenzie backgrounds the issue...
Privacy endangered notion
Privacy endangered notion
BusinessJuly 13

China seeks to reduce web users' anonymity

A leading Chinese Internet regulator has vowed to reduce anonymity in China's portion of cyberspace, calling for new rules to require people to use their real names when buying a mobile phone or going online, according to a human rights group.
BusinessJuly 7

Germany takes legal steps against Facebook

A German data protection official has filed a legal complaint against Facebook, saying people have been griping that their private information was saved by the personal networking site without their knowledge or consent.
BusinessJuly 4

Privacy is not what it used to be

The other day on the internet, one man's Facebook circle received a public service announcement of sorts: "This goes out to any girl that ive ever been with. I got tested today for herpes and i came out positive."
Privacy is not what it used to be
Privacy is not what it used to be
BusinessJuly 1

Facebook launches 'permissions' for apps, websites

Facebook is rolling out a new feature that requires outside applications and websites to tell users exactly what parts of their profiles have to be shared for the apps to work.
BusinessJune 27

US unveils plan to make online transactions safer

In the murky world of the internet, how do you ever really know who you're talking to, who you're buying from or if your bank can actually tell it's you when you log in to pay a bill?
BusinessJune 25

Twitter reaches settlement after accounts hacked, privacy breached

Twitter has agreed to settle charges by federal regulators that it put the privacy of its users at risk by failing to protect them from data security lapses last year that let hackers access their accounts.
BusinessJune 22

Google facing more privacy probes

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says that "a significant number" of states will be conducting an investigation into Google's  gathering of personal data via wireless networks.
BusinessJune 21

Call to monitor the web to fight domestic terror attacks

Fighting homegrown terrorism by monitoring internet communications is a civil liberties trade-off the US government must make to beef up national security, the nation's homeland security chief said.
BusinessJune 9

Police to investigate Google Street View

The Privacy Commissioner has today asked police to investigate Google's gathering of personal wireless internet data during its street view operation in New Zealand.
BusinessJune 4

Yahoo faces privacy test with email changes

Yahoo is hoping to turn on a new sharing option in its popular email service without upsetting users who prize their privacy.
BusinessMay 27

Details of Facebook privacy changes announced

Facebook has responded to privacy concerns by announcing simplified privacy controls and applying them retroactively, so users can protect the status updates and photos they have posted in the past.
BusinessMay 26

Facebook to launch new privacy settings today

Facebook will roll out new, simpler privacy controls today, after criticism of its latest privacy settings by users, governments and privacy groups, including New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner.
BusinessMay 25

'I know we've made a bunch of mistakes': Facebook founder

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has publicly admitted the giant social media site got it wrong with recent changes to privacy settings, and he says improvements are on their way.
'I know we've made a bunch of mistakes': Facebook founder
'I know we've made a bunch of mistakes': Facebook founder
BusinessMay 24

Privacy Commissioner invites Facebook concerns

New Zealanders unhappy with changes to Facebook's privacy settings can share their concerns with the Privacy Commissioner.
BusinessMay 11

Google says it takes privacy seriously

Google says it takes privacy very seriously after New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner joined counterparts from around the world in expressing concerns to the web giant over its data and privacy protection.
BusinessMay 11

Kiwis OK with Big Brother - to a point

Most New Zealanders don't mind Big Brother taking a closer look at our roads, motorways and credit cards, but are uneasy about the Government snooping on personal emails, according to a recent survey.
BusinessMay 11

Survey finds concerns over internet privacy

New Zealanders are more concerned about their privacy in the digital age than the Privacy Commissioner would like, although that should improve as businesses and government agencies smarten up their act.
Survey finds concerns over internet privacy
Survey finds concerns over internet privacy
The MixMay 9

Is Internet privacy a thing of the past?

Credit card companies know what you have bought. Phone companies know whom you've called. Electronic toll services know where you've gone. Internet search companies know what you've sought.
NationalMay 5

Changes to Privacy Act signalled

Law Commission president Sir Geoffrey Palmer, SC, has flagged proposed changes to privacy rules which could mean more sharing of private information between government agencies.