133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
11 August 2022
Scott
By email: [FYI request #19579 email]
Ref:
H202208157
Tēnā koe Scott
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), transferred
from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to Manatū Hauora (the
Ministry) on 21 June 2022 for information regarding COVID-19 misinformation data:
“ONE: The report titled “False information reporting data from 15 Sep to 5 December
2021” This report is referred to on p.31 of this document published on the Unite against
COVID-19 website
TWO: Al other reports in the same “false information reporting data” series, dated since
the beginning of this year. This can be confined to reports that cover a period of one
month or more.”
On 22 June 2022, you were advised that the referenced report in your request was provided
by CERT New Zealand to the Ministry in the form of raw data, rather than as a report. On
23 June 2022, you amended your request accordingly:
“Thank you for your email. Yes, I would like my request to be taken to mean the raw data.”
The raw data you have requested is reports from individuals made to CERT New Zealand that
contains within it identifying information such as names of individuals, dates, times and links to
social media accounts and websites. For this reason, the requested information is withheld in
full under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect privacy of natural persons.
The Ministry also deems it appropriate to refuse filtered data under section 18(f) of the Act as
the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
In line with section 13 of the Act, the Ministry is providing further information about the data
reported by CERT New Zealand regarding false information:
• CERT New Zealand provided a total of 2,574 reports on false information
• The Voices for Freedom group had the most reports (1,344)
• Auckland was the area that had the most reporting (390)
• August and December 2021 were the months that received the most reports (437
and 413 respectively)
• The Voices for Freedom website was the most reported website (1,018)
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Turner
Deputy Director-General
Government and Executive Services
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