Inquiry into the Ministry of Social Development's collection of Individual-Client Level Data from NGOs
Inquiry into the Ministry of Social Development's collection of Individual-Client Level Data from NGOs
Privacy Commissioner
- Wellington, New Zealand : Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2017
- electronic document (49 pages) ; PDF file: 815 KB
This report examines the Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) requirement for NGOs to provide individual client level data (ICLD).
The Privacy Commissioner has criticised MSD's approach as "excessive and inconsistent with the privacy principles," highlighting three major privacy risks:
- Individuals may choose to stay away from seeking help at all – leading to worse outcomes for individuals and society as a whole
- Individuals may choose to provide incorrect information in order to preserve their privacy – leading to inaccurate or useless data for analysis
- NGOs may allow those clients who are reluctant to have their sensitive information given to MSD to access services without providing their personal information – leading to reduced funding and risks to NGOs' long-term viability and the 'invisibility' to the system of a significant cohort of individuals in need of support. (From the NZFVC news item). Record #5383
New Zealand. Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Ministry of Social Development | Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora
GOVERNMENT POLICY
DATA COLLECTION
FUNDING
INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION
PRIVACY ACT 1993
SOCIAL SERVICES
SUPPORT SERVICES
NEW ZEALAND
This report examines the Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) requirement for NGOs to provide individual client level data (ICLD).
The Privacy Commissioner has criticised MSD's approach as "excessive and inconsistent with the privacy principles," highlighting three major privacy risks:
- Individuals may choose to stay away from seeking help at all – leading to worse outcomes for individuals and society as a whole
- Individuals may choose to provide incorrect information in order to preserve their privacy – leading to inaccurate or useless data for analysis
- NGOs may allow those clients who are reluctant to have their sensitive information given to MSD to access services without providing their personal information – leading to reduced funding and risks to NGOs' long-term viability and the 'invisibility' to the system of a significant cohort of individuals in need of support. (From the NZFVC news item). Record #5383
New Zealand. Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Ministry of Social Development | Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora
GOVERNMENT POLICY
DATA COLLECTION
FUNDING
INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION
PRIVACY ACT 1993
SOCIAL SERVICES
SUPPORT SERVICES
NEW ZEALAND