Biometric information is personal information. This consultation paper seeks the views of stakeholders, Maori Tiriti partners and the general public about how biometrics (including facial recognition technology) should be regulated to protect privacy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background information (including more detail about what is meant by ‘biometrics’) is provided in the main part of the paper.

The OPC wants to hear a range of perspectives on biometrics. This includes views from vendors of biometric technologies; users or potential users of such technologies in both the public and private sectors; Maori organisations and individuals; community organisations; civil society organisations representing privacy, human rights, legal, consumer, worker and other interests; technical and legal experts; and the general public. The OPC encourages as many people as possible to respond to the questions in this paper.

Submissions close 30 September 2022.