[Note: These were initial, draft terms of reference for discussion about a 'virtual reporting cell' that was never
established. An initial proposal to set up an an interagency group to report on nationally significant
COVID-19 disinformation was not pursued. These draft terms of reference were never finalised or
considered further.]
Virtual triaging and reporting cell: COVID-related
mis/disinformation and risks to the COVID-19 response
TERMS OF REFERENCE
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Purpose
To provide a structure and process for bringing together, synthesising and reporting information to
the Prime Minister and relevant Ministers and senior officials regarding the impact of
Act
mis/disinformation on public safety and the associated effect of COVID-19 response measures on
social cohesion.
Membership
The core of the virtual cell will comprise staff from
NZ Police (NIC),
Ministry of Health (DART) and
DPMC (NAB).
CTAG, the
COVID-19 Group Insights and Reporting Team and DPMC’s
National
Security Policy Directorate (NSPD) should also be on the distribution list for this work.
Agency
Contact
NAB
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Information
DART
s9(2)(g)(ii)
NZ Police
s9(2)(g)(ii)
COVID-19 Group Insights Team
s9(2)(g)(ii)
CTAG
s9(2)(g)(ii)
Official
DPMC (NSPD)
(until 31 January 2022)
s9(2)(g)(ii)the
Governance / Oversight
The Interagency Group on COVID-related misinformation, chaired by the Assurance and Continuous
Improvement team within the COVID-19 Group at DPMC, will maintain close contact with the virtual
cell. The virtual cell will provide updates to the Interagency Group during its fortnightly meetings,
and work with the Chair to ensure the process remains fit for purpose.
Triaging process
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In addition to information that has been collected directly, agencies currently receive information via
CERT (public reporting of COVID-related misinformation), Te Pūnaha Matatini (insights reports based
on analysis of a range of groups across key social media platforms), ISD, GDI and a number of other
sources.
The Interagency Group will ensure that the virtual cell receives all of this material directly, and has
access to a range of NZ Police reporting.
Analysts from NZ Police, NAB and DART will work collectively on extracting the key points from
available information to enable summary reports for senior leaders. While this can be largely done
Released
via email, members of the virtual cell should also aim to have coordination meetings on a regular
basis to ensure everyone is looking at the same inputs and is comfortable with the broad
assessments.
Reporting
1982
Using this range of information, the virtual cell will produce a fortnightly report to the COVID Chief
Commented [GM[1]: Something about burden sharing in
Executives’ Board, the PM and relevant Ministers. In between these fortnightly reports it will also
the drafting
look to provide interim reports to COVID response agencies. These may be on an ‘as required’ basis
for fast-moving developments, and could also take the form of verbal updates.
Act
The purpose of these reports will be to provide timely, accurate and contextualised information on
the misinformation environment surrounding the COVID-19 response, and to ensure visibility of
potential or emerging public safety or national security risks.
The fortnightly reports will be triple badged (Police, Health and NAB) with each contributing agency
having ensured that reports are approved through their internal processes in a timely way. The
reports will be sent out by NAB through their usual distribution channels.
Commented [GM[2]: Something about sign-out processes
Referrals
Where issues arise in the course of the cell’s work that may cross criminal and public safety
thresholds, Police will ensure escalation through its usual processes, working with other agencies as
Information
required. CTAG will be included in distribution to ensure visibility of potential terrorism or violent
extremism risks.
Where other referrals may be required (e.g. where material may be in breach of the terms and
conditions of social media platforms or advertising standards), further work is required to determine
the most appropriate central place for this function to sit. As an interim step, DART will work with
the COVID-19 Group to take the lead on these referrals and will escalate issues to the interagency
group as required.
Official
Privacy and handling considerations
The virtual cell will need to take care to ensure that the privacy of individuals is maintained when
collecting, receiving or sharing information. All reports should be marked
In Confidence and treated
the
in strict accordance with the protective security requirements and the Privacy Act (2020).
In the absence of an information management tool that can be accessed across agencies, DART/NAB
(TBC) will be the central repository for information received and produced by the virtual cell.
under
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