Data Can Lawfully Be Shared to Protect Kids, New Zealand Watchdog Advises
No law prevents sharing information when there are well-being or safety concerns about children, New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said Wednesday. His office published new guidance aimed at helping people in the children's sector "make good and timely decisions" about when they can share information to protect children and young people.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Privacy Daily provides accurate coverage of newsworthy developments in data protection legislation, regulation, litigation, and enforcement for privacy professionals responsible for ensuring effective organizational data privacy compliance.
Important information is sometimes not shared out of concerns about the Privacy Act, but the law doesn't stand in the way of child protection, Webster noted. He said there are "too many examples" where relevant information wasn't shared and children were harmed or died.
The DPA's guidance -- which covers sharing under New Zealand's Oranga Tamariki Act (well-being and safety), Family Violence Act and Privacy Act -- includes tools such as quick reference guides and checklists.
Anyone who thinks a child is in immediate danger should call the police, the DPA added.