Privacy Laws in New Zealand

By Greg Sallis

As the need for data increases, more and more countries are implementing stringent data protection policies to help safeguard consumers’ confidential information.

New Zealand was one of the first countries to enact laws dedicated to its citizen’s right to privacy with its Privacy Act of 1993. This act has now been updated to the current “Privacy Act of 2020,” where all the rules for collecting and processing personal data are enshrined.

We’ll examine the Privacy Act of 2020 and explain what it means for businesses and other entities that collect personally identifiable information (PII).

What Is the Privacy Act of 2020?

The Privacy Act of 2020 governs how businesses and organizations collect, store, use, and share personally identifiable information.

The act was passed by New Zealand’s parliament on June 2020 and came into force on December 1^st, 2020. It made significant changes to the 1993 law and covers a broad range of topics, including limits on the use and disclosure of PII, data breach notification requirements, restrictions on cross-border transfer of personal information, etc.

Who Does the Privacy Act Apply To?

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to any person, business, or organization, whether in the private or public sector, that collects and holds personal information. These includes:

Companies
Small businesses (including sole proprietors)
Social clubs
Government agencies
Charitable organizations
Religious groups
Any other organization defined under the Company Act 1993

However, some organizations and individuals are not obliged to follow the rules of the Privacy Act. Organizations and individuals exempted from the rules include courts, members of parliament acting in their official capacity, and the news media.

Rules for Collecting Personal Data

The Privacy Act defines “Personal Information” as information that may be used to identify a person, including information related to death, marriage, and relationships.

Personal information includes a wide range of information or opinions that can be used to identify an individual. For example, personal information may include the following:

An individual’s name, address, date of birth, and phone number
Credit card information
Medical information
Location information
Employee record
Personal identification (ID) number

The Privacy Act 2020 introduced stringent rules on individuals, businesses, and organizations that collect personal information. According to the Act, these entities must abide by the following rules. They must notify consumers about:

What information is being collected
Why it is being collected
How the data will be used
How the information will be protected
The consumers’ right to review and correct the data

An individual’s authorization is needed for any other use or disclosure of the information. Failure to comply with these rules will attract penalties.

The Privacy Principles

The Privacy Act 2020 has 13 privacy principles that set out how businesses should handle personal information. The first four principles govern how organizations should collect personal information. This includes how to collect it and use it.

Principles 5 through 7 govern how the collected information should be stored. Consumers have the right to review and seek correction for their PII. The rest of the principles govern how the information should be used and shared.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Businesses and organizations found violating the privacy rules enshrined in the Privacy Act 2020 may be subjected to fines and penalties amounting to $10,000.

Possible consequences of privacy rules violation include warning letters, compliance notices, access directions, public interest inquiry, public naming of the entity, and referral to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

You Might Also Be Interested In

9 Tips for Creating a Data Classification Policy

Data classification can be described as the process of organizing and labeling data based on key factors such as sensitivity, value, and risk. The need for classifying data has become crucial in today’s increasingly data-driven business environment. Having an effective data classification policy is important because of the number of benefits it provides. What is a Data Classification Policy? A data classification policy is a clear definition of standards or guidelines that stipulate how data should be categorized and protected in an organization. Data classification standards provide a holistic framework for classifying or organizing data according to criteria such as sensitivity, importance, and potential risks. An effective data classification policy must have clear instructions on how to access, handle, label, process, store, transmit, and dispose of various kinds of data. Benefits of Having a Data Classification Policy All organizations come across data/information with varying levels of risk, value, and importance. A data classification policy helps organizations develop adequate data management procedures, including security and protection measures. Here are some key benefits of a data classification policy: Effective Compliance Several formal regulations emphasize the need to protect a particular kind of sensitive data. Take the CCPA, for example, which mandates companies to be more transparent in how they collect and use the consumer data of Californians. A comprehensive data classification policy will enable your organization to know exactly what data regulations apply to it and how to effectively manage data to ensure regulatory compliance, (e.g., restricting access to regulated data). This will help you avoid the bad press, litigations, and fines that can be costly for your business. Better Organization of Data A notable obstacle to effective data protection is actually knowing where the data you want to protect resides. It is surprising that a lot of businesses can’t readily tell the locations of their sensitive data or even the size of the data in their systems. Data classification policies can be integrated into software that can search for, identify, and classify data in your systems accordingly. This not only provides you with information such as the location and size of system data but also ensures optimal organization of your digital information and assets (which makes work easier). It also assists in the implementation of data protection controls such as access restriction and prevention of data leaks. Greater Awareness By establishing an official data classification policy, an organization ensures that its employees are informed about how to properly handle, store, and retrieve potentially sensitive data. This provides all staff with a reference point when it comes to data management within the organization, ensuring uniformity and accountability while minimizing the risk of accidental exposure and other unwanted consequences of poor management of data. Cost Savings An effective data classification policy will enable your company to evolve measures that will help ensure sound data protection and management. This can save you costs from matters that may arise from security loopholes and poor data management. A single data breach can be costly. IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report indicates that the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over 3 years. Also, the average savings for organizations that use security AI and automation extensively is USD 1.76 million compared to organizations that don’t. Data Classification Policy Tips The benefits of having a data classification policy have been mentioned earlier. Here are some tips on how to come up with an effective data classification policy: 1. Determine the Policy’s Objectives and Scope Defining your objectives and scope before classifying is essential because it will help you align your policy with your business needs and expectations. Key questions here include: What goals and benefits do you want data classification to achieve for your organization? Which persons are the data classification policy meant for? What legal or regulatory requirements apply to your data? What measurement techniques will you adopt to gauge the effectiveness and compliance capability of your data classification policy? 2. Define Your Data Categories Data classification or categorization can vary according to each organization’s specific needs and requirements. The three most widely used types of data classification are: Confidentiality-Based Classification : focuses on the level of sensitivity or confidentiality of data, e.g., public, internal use, confidential, and restricted access. Categorization here is often based on the potential harm or impact that may arise if the data is disclosed to unauthorized persons. Regulatory-Based Classification: involves categorizing data according to the specific regulations or legal requirements that apply to an organization. Examples include data classified as personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), or data based on relevant regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, PIPEDA, CCPA, and others. Criticality-Based Classification: is based on how critical or important the data is to the organization’s operations, e.g., the potential impact on the company if the data were to become unavailable or compromised. Hence, data here may be classified as critical, essential, or non-critical based on how important it is to the organization. 3. Label and Tag Classified Data To avoid confusion, it is necessary to assign clear labels or tags to data to indicate their classification. You can do this either manually or automatically, depending on the volume and complexity of the data involved. In the manual method, data owners or users attach labels and tags to their data, based on their knowledge and judgment. In the automatic approach, tools such as software are used to scan and classify data based on previously defined rules or keywords. 4. Determine Access Control, Retention, and Deletion Procedures Your policy needs to clearly define who is authorized to access and modify data based on their classification as well as the length of time for retaining data and how surplus data will be securely disposed of. 5. Establish Data Handling and Documentation Procedures Create guidelines that will specify how to handle, share, and store data for every classification level. Also maintain documented records of data classification decisions and policies. 6. Develop Employee Training Programs For increased productivity, ensure employees are trained on the importance and benefits of data classification, regulatory compliance, and handling practices, as well as their roles and responsibilities in ensuring the success of the policy. Training should be a continuous process that captures the latest data/information classification and management trends, concepts, methodologies, and best practices. 7. Implement, and Enforce Your Policy Any effective data classification policy should include implementation, and enforcement mechanisms. This will help ensure that your organization’s data is stored, transmitted, and disposed of according to categorization and handling guidelines. You also have to establish incident response mechanisms for responding to unauthorized access and other data security breaches. Always ensure that your data classification standards align with regulatory requirements. 8. Measure Policy Outcomes and Engage in Constant Policy Reviews It is necessary to monitor, audit, assess and evaluate the impact and value of data classification policy on your data security, privacy, and governance, as well as measure your performance against your objectives and metrics. Monitoring, auditing, assessing, measuring, and evaluating will help you to periodically review and improve your data classification policy to ensure that it is always effective and relevant. Be sure to demand feedback from your stakeholders and users on the challenges and opportunities they face with data classification while striving to identify any gaps or issues that require attention. 9. Use Data Classification Software The use of software for effective management of data has been mentioned a few times in this post. In these days of big data, versatile software is important for every organization because it helps in the development of effective procedures for speedily managing large volumes of data, including the implementation of security and protection measures. For example, third-party data classification software can help an organization automate data classification easily and cost-effectively. This is where iDox.ai can make a clear difference for all organizations – big, medium, or small. iDox.ai's intelligent and powerful algorithms will automatically identify, classify, tag, and protect sensitive personal data/information and ensure compliance with regulations within your organization. Try out the wide range of efficient products and solutions at iDox.ai today and you’ll be very glad you did!

Nov 8, 2023

Accelerate Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs)

By Greg Sallis In the new digital age, data privacy rights are top of mind for consumers and regulators alike. One fundamental data privacy right allowing individuals to access their personal data (commonly known as a "data subject access request" or "DSAR"). If your company holds personal data about EU citizens, you must respond to DSARs within one month. This is per the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a failure for which you could face a hefty fine. However, responding to DSARs can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, especially if you’re doing it manually. Fortunately, you can accelerate DSARs by automating the process. Here is more insight into how automating DSARs in your organization can save you time, money, and the headache associated with these requests. Fast Verification of the Subject's Identity The first step in responding to a DSAR is verifying the data subject's identity. This process can be laborious when done by hand, [GS1] ">as you have to send physical documents back and forth. But with automation, you can use digital identity verification tools to verify the data subject's identity electronically. You can ask the subjects to verify their identity using technological approaches such as SMS/email and SSO/OIDC. You can also verify the identity by integrating the data with third-party verification tools such as Experian. Faster Retrieval of Data The next step in responding to a DSAR is retrieving the data requested. This process can take time, especially if the data is spread across different systems. Automation can speed up this process by centralizing the data in one location and using intelligent search tools to locate the data quickly. For example, you can use data discovery tools to crawl through all your data sources and automatically index the data. This will make it much easier and faster to find the data when needed. You can also use search tools with natural language processing (NLP) capabilities to help you efficiently locate the data. Faster Data Redaction One crucial step in responding to a DSAR is redacting the data. When responding to data access requests, you must find and redact confidential and sensitive data. Redaction is necessary to protect the privacy of other people whose data may be included in the request. Manually redacting data can be a slow and tedious process. But with automation, you can use optical character recognition (OCR) tools to identify and redact sensitive data. Redaction technology will scan documents and automatically identify and redact confidential information such as credit card and social security numbers. The best thing about this technology is that it can redact faces, audio, and video files. Improved Accuracy When responding to DSARs, it’s essential to be as accurate as possible to avoid penalties. But manual processes are often error-prone, leading to inaccuracies in the data. Automation can improve the accuracy of DSAR responses by using tools such as natural language processing (NLP) to check for errors. NLP can help you identify and correct any mistakes in the data before it’s sent to the subject. Automation will reduce errors such as forgetting to redact sensitive information, sending data to the wrong person, or accidentally deleting data. Streamlining the Data Intake Process When responding to DSARs, you must collect data from multiple sources and put it together. This can be a challenge when done manually, as it requires coordination between different departments. But with automation, you can streamline the data intake process by creating an automated workflow. This will ensure that all the data is collected and stored in one central location. The workflow will also help you track the progress of the DSAR and see where any bottlenecks are. As a result, you will realize enhanced efficiency when responding to DSARs. Reduced Costs Responding to DSARs can be costly, especially if you have to hire staff to do it manually. But the right technology can help you reduce the costs associated with DSARs. The technology will help you save on labor costs, as you won’t need to hire as many staff to respond to data access requests. It will also help you save on storage costs, as you won’t need to keep as much data on hand. In addition, you won’t need to use as much processing power to respond to data access requests, which will reduce your processing costs. Accelerate Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) With Automation Responding to data subject access requests doesn’t have to be a headache. Automation will make the whole process a breeze, from verifying subjects' identities to redacting data. Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also improve the accuracy of your responses. So if you’re looking to streamline your DSAR process, automation is the way to go. “Quick, well designed, and saved our team over 97% of time. Our team was able to meet subject access requests and meet GDPR mandates using the iDox.ai redaction solution.” Learn more - Carl Bevan - Royal College of Nursing

Feb 17, 2023

4 Ways Regulatory Compliance is Critical for Business Success

By Alisa Fetic Why is Regulatory Compliance Crucial for Business Success? 1. Defending Stakeholders and Customers The protection of stakeholders and customers is one of the main benefits of regulatory compliance. The purpose of laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is to safeguard individuals' personal information and ensure that it is used in a morally and responsible way. For instance, the GDPR mandates that enterprises seek individuals' explicit consent before collecting their personal data. Additionally, they must grant people the right to data portability and the capacity to access, correct, or remove their personal information. These guidelines aid in making sure people have control over their personal information and that its usage complies with their expectations. The CCPA regulation also helps in consumer protection. Organizations are obligated by the CCPA to put reasonable security measures in place to safeguard personal data, and they are also required to notify people immediately if there is a data breach. Organizations may establish their dedication to safeguarding the interests of stakeholders and customers by adhering to these standards, which also helps to increase consumer trust in their brand. 2. Reducing risks Regulatory compliance allows firms to reduce legal and financial risks in addition to protecting stakeholders and consumers. Avoid going the way of the Chinese company Didi Global , which was forced to pay a staggering $1.19 billion in fines for breaking data protection rules. Organizations are able to lower their risk of legal action and financial penalties that may follow non-compliance by operating within the confines of the law. For instance, financial institutions are expected to create strong cybersecurity processes and routine risk assessments under the NYDFS Cybersecurity Regulation to safeguard sensitive data from cyberattacks. Additionally, businesses are obliged to provide recurring reports to the NYDFS on the progress of their risk management and cybersecurity programs. Organizations can demonstrate their dedication to cybersecurity and reduce their risk of facing monetary fines and legal action in the case of a breach by adhering to these guidelines. 3. Taking Care of the Environment Compliance with regulations is crucial because it contributes to environmental protection, which is another factor. To lessen pollution and safeguard natural resources, laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act were passed. Organizations must, for instance, keep their emissions of air pollutants like greenhouse gases that fuel climate change to a minimum under the Clean Air Act. By doing so, the environmental and public health effects of these pollutants are lessened overall. Similar to this, organizations are required by the Clean Water Act to keep the quality of the country's rivers up to par and to limit their release of pollutants into waterways. This aids in preserving and safeguarding for future generations the water resources we rely on for drinking, recreation, and wildlife habitat. In addition to being beneficial to the environment, following these standards is also advantageous to business. Businesses may establish a good reputation and draw in clients that care about environmental issues by showcasing their dedication to sustainability. Additionally, firms can lower their operational expenses, lower their risk of legal action, and perhaps even be eligible for tax rebates and other benefits by minimizing their environmental effect. 4. Building Trust and Protecting Reputation Compliance with regulations is crucial for preserving a company's reputation and fostering customer confidence. Consumers and stakeholders want businesses to conduct themselves in an ethical and responsible manner, and breaking the law can harm an organization's brand. For instance, a business can show that it is committed to safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring that it is used responsibly by complying with laws relating to data privacy and cybersecurity. Customers and other stakeholders who are worried about the protection of their personal information can gain trust as a result of this. Similar to this, an organization shows its dedication to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact by adhering to rules about environmental protection. Customers and other stakeholders who care about environmental issues and the future of our world will trust you more as a result of this. In conclusion, it is essential to comply with regulatory requirements in today's business environment. This type of compliance helps businesses to avoid legal and financial risks while also protecting their customers and shareholders. Compliance with regulations conveys that the organization is serious and responsible in its practices, increasing trust in their brand. Understanding current regulations as well as putting systems in place to guard document security is critical for companies wanting to stay ahead of the game.

Feb 14, 2023

11 Regulatory Requirements for Business Success

By Alisa Fetic What is Regulatory Compliance? In every sector, regardless of its size, laws and regulations exist to safeguard the public. Regulatory compliance involves following such rules to ensure companies are adhering to the laws and regulations while protecting the interests of stakeholders and promoting ethical practices. Regulations can cover a vast range of topics including privacy, security, health and safety, financial reporting, and environmental protection. Organizations need to comprehend their obligations, embrace policies supporting those obligations, consistently monitor their compliance status, and have systems in place for detecting violations. Regulatory compliance may seem daunting for some due to the frequently changing digital world. However, with a proactive strategy, investing in tools and experts as well as staying tuned on updates in regulations, organizations can make sure they are compliant and that they are providing proper stakeholder protection. All in all, regulatory compliance is an essential part of successful corporations and it's essential that they clearly understand what they need to do and how they should do it. With correct precautions like taking a proactive stance, investing in the right technologies and resources as well as remaining informed on new legislation – companies can meet these qualifications effectively whilst safeguarding the interests of their shareholders. What are the 11 regulatory requirement for business success? 1. Data security and confidentiality Organizations are required by laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to safeguard individuals' personal information and make sure that it is used correctly. 2. Cybersecurity To guard against cyberattacks and unauthorized access, organizations must put strong cybersecurity safeguards in place. Specific standards for protecting consumer data are outlined in regulations like the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Cybersecurity Regulation. 3. Environmental Defense To lessen pollution and safeguard natural resources, laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act were passed. These rules must be followed by organizations to show their dedication to sustainability and lessen their environmental effect. 4. Employee Safety and Health Organizations are required to create a safe working environment for employees and to safeguard their health and well-being by laws like the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). 5. Consumer Protection To safeguard customers against dangerous goods and guarantee that items are safe for use, regulations like those of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are in place. 6. Financial Reporting and Accounting Organizations are required to adhere to international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) in their accounting and financial reporting (IFRS). 7. Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) (CTF) Organizations are required to take action to stop money laundering and the financing of terrorism through laws like the USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). 8. Anti-Corruption and Bribery Organizations are forbidden from offering bribes or engaging in corrupt practices by laws like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act 2010. 9. Labor and Employment Employees' rights are upheld and fair treatment is guaranteed by laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 10. Advertisement and product labeling Organizations must appropriately label and advertise their products in accordance with laws like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, which also forbids deceptive and misleading advertising tactics. 11. Document Management A strong document management system must be in place for enterprises. A clear and well-organized system for storing, getting access to, and distributing sensitive information is part of this. This is crucial in fields where sensitive information is often shared and maintained, like banking, healthcare, and law. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which offers a standardized method of security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud goods and services utilized by the U.S. government, is one of the important regulations to be aware of. FedRAMP mandates that organizations have a thorough document management system in place to guarantee that sensitive data is safeguarded and secure.

Feb 14, 2023

The Importance of Redaction for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

By Alisa Fetic Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are time-consuming, but processing them correctly is critical to avoid potential financial penalties. Below, we explore the FOIA in more detail, in addition to the exemptions that mean your agency may need to redact data when processing a request. What is the Freedom of Information Act? The Freedom of Information Act was enacted in 1967, and it allows for individuals and organizations to request access to information held about them by federal agencies. But while such agencies must disclose the information that they have, there are certain exemptions that may be omitted. These nine exemptions exist to protect certain interests that pertain to national security and other sensitive areas. Why is FOIA Data Redacted? Certain information shouldn't be released to the general public, which is why federal agencies will use redaction. Redaction removes personally identifiable information (PII) and other data that, if disclosed, could cause harm to an organization, individual, or the government. As mentioned, there are nine exemptions here, which include: Information pertaining to national security and foreign policy Information relating to an organization's personnel rules and policies Personally identifiable information, especially related to healthcare or finances Confidential company information (trade secrets) and financial records Communications between federal agencies and their policies Compiled records from law enforcement agencies (criminal records, etc.) Geological information, such as maps Regulatory or supervisory information for financial institutions Information exempted from release by statute So, the above information must be redacted and not released as part of an FOIA. In such cases, agencies are expected to explain why information has been redacted, which is usually done by marking each instance with an exemption number . Redaction is Time-Consuming Given the number of documents that may be included in an FOIA, and the time taken to not only review said documents, but redact sensitive information, agencies can invest a lot of manual hours into fulfilling such requests. Tech organizations are already turning to digital solutions that facilitate the process, reducing the amount of time spent redacting documents. These AI (artificial intelligence) driven tools can handle large volumes of data, identifying and sanitizing any sensitive information far more quickly than a human. Use iDox.ai for Rapid Redaction The importance of redaction can't be understated when handling FOIA requests. Under the Privacy Act of 2020, any officer or employee of an agency that falls foul of these rules can face a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $5,000. What's more, your agency may be fined under federal or state law for mishandling data. With data privacy becoming such a critical topic, states like California, Connecticut, and Colorado are already implementing more stringent data privacy laws too. The privacy landscape is changing quickly, and your organization needs to be sure that FOIA requests are being handled in the correct way, and to the letter of the law. The iDox.ai suite has been designed to quickly and easily redact sensitive information within documents that are intended for distribution or sharing. When paired with iDox.ai Discovery, which rapidly identifies sensitive data within a document, your organization can save significant man hours when preparing FOIA responses.

Dec 21, 2022

The History of The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

By Alisa Fetic The Freedom of Information Act, otherwise known as FOIA, is a national law that governs the disclosure of public information in the United States. It posits that any person has the right to request access to records from the Executive Branch of the United States Government, or any of its agencies. The information can include documents, emails, photographs, and other forms of data that are maintained in the government’s possession. FOIA is designed to promote the openness and transparency of the government by allowing citizens to have easier access to public records. It also seeks to hold the government accountable by allowing citizens to review and examine records that could help in determining if the government is acting inefficiently or making decisions that are not in the public's best interest. The law also serves to protect confidential information, such as trade secrets and personal records, which should remain private. The History of the Freedom of Information Act The Freedom of Information Act was first enacted in 1966 as a response to rising public demand for government transparency, especially during the Vietnam War. President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law, which initially focused on providing military records to the public. However, in 1974, Congress amended the Act with necessary changes. The FOIA was further amended in 1976 through the Government in the Sunshine Act to clarify its exemptions and terms, and again in 1986 through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Its most recent update came in 2016, when President Obama signed the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 into law. This act expanded FOIA protections to include new digital formats, such as emails and social media posts, which are now considered a public record. Since its creation, the Freedom of Information Act has been used to uncover a variety of scandals and wrongdoing in the government. In one case, FOIA was used to uncover the CIA’s involvement in a failed coup attempt in Chile in 1970. In another case, it was used to reveal data on the US military’s use of chemical weapons in Vietnam. The implications of this law are far-reaching and it has been used to make the government more transparent and accountable. While FOIA is often seen as an important civil liberty, there are still many restrictions on what information is accessible. It also still faces criticism from those who believe it is too restrictive or does not provide enough access for citizens. Who and What Is Covered By the Freedom of Information Act The Freedom of Information Act allows 'any person', regardless of citizenship, the ability to request documents or information from the US government. This includes private individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, and universities, as well as state, local, and foreign governments. There are a few exceptions to this, however - the law makes it clear that fugitives from justice, anyone acting on behalf of a fugitive, and foreign governments requesting information from intelligence agencies do not have the right to request information under FOIA. In terms of what is covered by the law, it broadly states that any records held by federal executive branch agencies are accessible to the public. This includes informational documents, such as emails, memos, and reports; photographs; videos; audio files; and databases. It does not include: classified information regarding foreign policy or national defense internal personnel practices and rules information that is already exempt under other laws confidential business information and trade secrets inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges medical and personnel files law enforcement information or records information regarding bank supervision geological and geophysical information Why Understanding the FOIA Is More Important Than Ever Despite its relative significance since 1966, the Freedom of Information Act is more important today than at any other point in history. In an age of digital media, many records and communications previously unavailable to the public are now accessible. At the same time, many people feel that it is more important than ever to know what information the government has access to, as well as how that information is used. This is especially true regarding the security and surveillance policies of the government, which are more opaque than ever before. The FOIA is one of the most important pieces of legislation for citizens to understand, as it provides a critical tool for individuals seeking to uncover the truth and hold their government accountable. By taking the steps to fully understand the law and its implications, Americans can ensure that their right to access public records is fully protected.

Dec 21, 2022