Notes from the IAPP Asia Managing Director, 17 March 2017

Greetings from Singapore!

The world in which we’re living keeps getting crazier. Distributed denial-of-service attacks taking down internet banking are hardly news these days, so hefty fines for a Canadian company selling intimate toys that were relaying sensitive (ahem) information and microwave ovens that can spy on you — oh wait, that one might be an alternative fact — become all the more notable.

(Cue Paul McCartney's “Live and Let Die”) "But if this ever-changin' world in which we're livin' makes you give in and cry," install the new IAPP-OneTrust Website Scanning and Cookie Compliance Tool available free for members. It may not stop your microwave or other devices from spying on you but it will help clean up your website and create a better experience for visitors to it.

Around the region, in New Zealand, an IT jobseeker website was suspended after a data breach (oh the irony) and the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner announced an overhaul of the 1993 Privacy Act to bring it into line with international laws. The review strengthens enforcement powers, including the introduction of a civil penalty provision that would allow the commissioner to apply to the High Court for a civil penalty of up to NZ$100,000 for individuals for serious breaches. The penalty could be up to NZ$1 million in the case of a corporation. This would bring New Zealand into line with penalties provided for in other comparable jurisdictions, for intentional and reckless breaches of privacy.

IAPP’s Asia Privacy Forum will take place in Singapore 24-25 July 2017. Look out for early bird registration opening soon!

Until next time, stay curious.