Covid-19 has brought privacy issues to the fore around the world, as governments grapple with balancing the need for adequate contact tracing systems and protecting citizens’ privacy.
In New Zealand, this changing privacy landscape is even more front of mind due to key changes in the new Privacy Act 2020, which will be the main topic of Catalyst Trust’s evening with Privacy Commissioner John Edwards on Tuesday, September 29.
The new law takes effect on December 1st and introduces several privacy protections and obligations, including a mandatory privacy breach notification regime, and enhanced enforcement powers.
Mr Edwards will discuss what these changes mean for businesses and organisations. He will also note recent privacy challenges in the context of Covid-19 and how New Zealand compares internationally.
During Q&A, he will be open to questions on the Covid related issues his office has been engaged in this year, such as contact tracing, the Covid card debate and international developments.
Mr Edwards has been New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner since February 2014 and previously was a lawyer for over 20 years. He was chair of the Executive Committee of the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners from 2014 to 2017.
Tuesday, September 29, 6 to 7.30 PM, The Rees Hotel Queenstown conference room. Registration is required to ensure your seat and for contact tracing purposes on Catalyst Trust’s Eventbrite page. Any necessary updates required by a change in alert levels will be notified to registrants and posted on our Facebook page.
More About John Edwards
John has degrees in law (LLB) and public policy (MPP) from Victoria University of Wellington and has advised and represented a wide range of clients from the public and private sector. He provides independent comment on significant personal information policies and issues.
John chaired the New Zealand Law Society Privacy and Human Rights Committee, was Contributing Editor of Brookers Human Rights Law and Practice and has published widely on human rights and privacy matters.
In addition to a practice specialty in the field of information and privacy law, he has provided legal services to the Kingdom of Tonga and held warrants as district inspector for mental health and as district inspector for intellectual disability services.