Privacy Commissioner Issues Urgent Warning Over Proposed Expansion of Police Intelligence Powers

Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster calls for stricter limits on the Policing Amendment Bill, citing concerns over bulk intelligence gathering and impacts on Māori.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 5:37 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Breaking Development: Commissioner Cites Surveillance Creep

The Policing Amendment Bill, which passed its first reading last month, seeks to clarify and expand the legal framework under which police can record and store information on individuals in public spaces. Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster argues that the bill’s implications have largely gone unnoticed by the general public despite its potential to authorize the recording of people simply because the data "might" be useful for future investigations. Webster’s primary objection is the move toward "bulk collection," where images of citizens going about their lawful daily lives are swept up into police databases without a specific, immediate criminal justification.

Background and Strategic Context: Reversing Legal Constraints

The government and police leadership contend that the bill is a necessary response to a 2022 inquiry and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling, both of which they claim have overly restricted operational intelligence gathering. Police Minister Mark Mitchell has defended the legislation, stating it is not a mechanism for mass surveillance but rather a tool to restore police efficiency. However, legal critics and civil liberties advocates argue that by authorizing practices previously deemed unlawful, the government is introducing sweeping new powers under the guise of "clarification." The rush to implement the bill has also reportedly bypassed traditional consultation with Māori and consideration of Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

Key Players and Stakeholders: A Divide Over Oversight

The debate features a clear rift between executive enforcement goals and independent oversight bodies. While the Justice Ministry initially backed the bill, its recommendations for "tailormade safeguards" to protect individual privacy were reportedly rejected by the government. Webster highlighted that the current draft makes it significantly more difficult for citizens to lodge complaints when their information is misused or shared improperly. The lack of robust oversight mechanisms remains a central point of contention for opposition parties and legal experts who fear the erosion of the "policing by consent" model.