While courts grapple with AI and deepfakes, the office meant to protect New Zealanders' digital privacy is refusing to answer questions about those very threats.

The Privacy Commissioner has declined four separate OIA requests in recent months, all focused on emerging technology risks. Two requests asked about data sovereignty and privacy implications of satellite internet services. Two more sought information about ManageMyHealth, a health platform used by hundreds of thousands of Kiwis. (Source: FYI.org.nz (OIA tracker), oia-refusals)

The timing creates an uncomfortable contrast. Judges tell media they're concerned about fabricated evidence and AI manipulation in their courtrooms. Meanwhile, the Privacy Commissioner won't disclose what they know about the privacy risks those same technologies pose to ordinary New Zealanders.

Satellite internet is expanding rapidly across rural New Zealand, routing data through foreign servers. ManageMyHealth holds medical records for patients nationwide. These aren't theoretical concerns. They're systems people use right now, often without understanding where their data goes or who can access it.

The refusals become more striking when you consider what the Privacy Commissioner is meant to do: promote and protect privacy, investigate complaints, and yes, educate the public about privacy risks. That education function requires transparency about what threats they're tracking and what advice they're giving.

You can see the actual refusal notices yourself on FYI.org.nz, New Zealand's OIA request tracker. The site shows every request made to government agencies and whether they answered, delayed, or refused.

What makes these refusals particularly frustrating is the pattern. They're not random administrative hiccups. All four refused requests deal with digital technology that's already integrated into New Zealand life. Satellite internet is being marketed to isolated communities as essential infrastructure. Health platforms are being pushed as the future of patient care.

If the Privacy Commissioner has concerns about these services, New Zealanders deserve to know. If they've investigated and found no issues, that's also worth saying. If they haven't looked into it at all, that might be the most concerning answer of all.

The courts are right to worry about AI and deepfakes. But judges aren't the only ones who need clear information about digital threats. Every time you check your medical records online or connect to satellite internet, you're making decisions about your data. You're just making them blind, because the agency meant to inform you won't.