Kiwis need to wise up over online privacy

We're being urged to wise up when it comes to online privacy.

The Privacy Commission's released findings of a survey of 750 people regarding their confidence in their privacy online.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff says 55 percent of New Zealanders think Facebook is a private space.

"So there's still an element of people who are not sufficiently aware about the risks of going online and putting too much information online."

Ms Shroff says people need to appreciate their information can be seen, even if they've altered their privacy settings.

She says people's information is no longer on a piece of paper in a filing cabinet.

"You've got to envisage many, many, many thousands or hundreds or millions of people's records on a USB stick the size of a thumbnail and I think that probably leads to people feeling somewhat powerless."

More than 80 percent of respondents have concerns about the Government silently sharing their personal information.

Ms Shroff says the Government should take that figure seriously.

"If we are going to give the Government our information, they have to have responsible stewardship of that information and they have to demonstrate that it is safe and it will be looked after."

She says the survey was conducted just after the ACC scandal was revealed, which may have affected results.

Photo: NZ Herald