May 10, 2023
Māori eye tikanga clash in digital privacy
It’s Privacy Week – and Aotearoa’s most experienced Māori patent attorney warns the rapid expansion of all things digital is threatening Māori sovereignty and control over their own data.
Lynell Tuffery-Huria says Māori imagery, music, art and knowledge are constantly being misappropriated.
While the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is focusing on digital privacy issues like online dating, biometrics, and AI, Māori are increasingly concerned about the conflict between commercial rights and tikanga rights.
“Under our current laws data is not inherently protected, except in special circumstances – but it isn’t underpinned by those Māori values that recognise kaitiaki, that recognise whakapapa, that recognise appropriate use, and correct use, and seek to ensure the integrity of that data is maintained at all times,” she says.
Ms Tuffery-Huria says government needs to listen to groups like Te Mana Rarauranga – the Māori Data Sovereignty Network.