Most New Zealanders believe it is not easy to protect their information online and they find the idea of being more in
control of their digital identity appealing, according to a new Digital Identity New Zealand (DINZ) survey just
released.
DINZ is a not for profit member association of the New Zealand Tech Alliance and their latest research highlights issues
holding back more rapid uptake of digital identity and the growth of the digital economy have remained consistent for
the past four years.
Their study found:90 percent of New Zealanders believe it is not easy to protect their information online90 percent of New Zealanders find the idea of being more in control of their digital identity appealing78 percent of New Zealanders are concerned about the protection of their identity and the use of personal data by
organisations70 percent of New Zealanders place some onus on the organisation holding their data, but there is some sense of shared
responsibility60 percent of New Zealanders don’t feel they know how to protect their information60 percent of New Zealanders were satisfied with the process of registering personal details with Government agencies in
response to the covid pandemic60 percent of New Zealanders have experienced some form of misuse, with credit card theft being most common50 percent of New Zealanders know their rights regarding the protection of personal data50 percent of New Zealanders have adapted their online behaviour due to concerns around data privacy50 percent of New Zealanders have some issue with registering new accounts online, although there has been a significant
increase in satisfaction since 202080 percent of businesses know where to find relevant legislation for their digital security obligations33 percent of businesses feel equipped to protect their customer’s personal data, while just 25 percent find this easy
to do33 percent of businesses believe the pandemic has impacted the way they manage their customer’s personal data
Digital identity allows people and organisations to use their personal information, including date of birth, income and
other proof attributes to access services. Essentially, digital identity is a shorthand for the processes used to
confirm identification, authentication and authorisation.
“There is more desire to have control over one’s personal data, says Colin Wallis, executive director of DINZ, and it
seems that the Covid experience has driven some progress towards greater understanding of the importance of data
protection.”
“Our research found that opening accounts for digital services and having to remember usernames and passwords is a major
cause of friction for consumers.
“Three quarters of respondents were wary of the transparency amongst organisations using their data and a similar
proportion were unhappy about the idea of organisations sharing/selling their data.
“The results support the consumer research conclusion that there is a trust problem which is why businesses and experts
are gathering at the digital trust hui taumata conference in Wellington in August to identify opportunities to increase digital trust in New Zealand.”