New Zealand: Issued Office of the Privacy Commissioner report on Children and Young People's Privacy project

On 16 April 2024, New Zealand's Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) released a report following public consultations on children's privacy. The report highlights a need for regulatory changes to better protect children's privacy. Key concerns identified include a desire to strengthen privacy regulations, possibly introducing a child-specific code of practice, and establishing the right to be forgotten, allowing the deletion of personal information. Public feedback emphasised considering children's capacity and best interests, imposing higher penalties for privacy breaches, and increasing transparency about how children's data is used. A large majority of respondents were concerned about the use of children's data without consent and called for greater transparency from digital platforms. The OPC noted that is reviewing the feedback and will determine the next steps in late 2024.