5 October 2022
Harold
[FYI request #19609 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-1545
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request for copies of various documents relating to the COVID-
19 interagency disinformation and online harms group
Thank you for your Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 27 July 2022.
You requested:
ONE: The minutes, agenda and action points for all meetings of the COVID 19
interagency disinformation and online harms group held since the beginning of April 2022
TWO: If the standing agenda for this group has gone through any updates since the
beginning of April 2022 I would like to request all versions of the standing agenda
produced during this period
THREE: If DPMC produced any submissions, presentations or other items that were
tabled or presented for 14 February 2022 alternate agenda item 3 (“Strategic view of
disinformation landscape”) then I would like to request a copies of these documents
FOUR: I would like to request a copy of the “Working Group Terms of Reference” referred
to in the 14 February 2022 alternate agenda (item 4)
FIVE: I would like to request a copy of the “Landscape Report” Request for Proposal and
any other RFx documentation produced for the procurement of this “Landscape Report”
(14 February 2022 alternate agenda item 5)
SIX: If the procurement of this “Landscape Report” has been awarded I would like to
request the identity of the organisation it was awarded to
SEVEN: If the “Landscape Report” has been completed I would like to request a copy of it
EIGHT: I would like to request a copy of the “Work Plan (6 month goals)” referred to in the
14 February 2022 alternate agenda (item 8)
NINE: If any other “Work Plans” for the group have been produced since the one referred
to in 14 February 2022 alternate agenda item 8, I would like to request copies of all these
more recent work plans as well
TEN: I would like to request copies of any submissions, presentations or other items
produced by the National Security Group that were tabled or presented for 24 March 2022
alternate agenda item 5c (“Quick fire updates… Disinformation wider landscape (NSG )”)
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4606397
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
In our response dated 24 August 2022, we responded to questions 1 (minutes and agenda but
not the action points), 2, 3, 4, and 10, and extended the time frame for responding to your
request by 30 working days under section 15A of the Act, because further consultations were
needed before a decision could be made on the request. I am now in a position to respond to
the remainder of your questions, which I will do in turn.
1. The minutes, agenda and action points for all meetings of the COVID 19 interagency
disinformation and online harms group held since the beginning of April 2022
As noted above, the part of your request for minutes and agendas were addressed in our
previous response. With regard to action points held since April 2022, I have decided to release
these in part. Please also note that the work plan and action log referenced was produced as
an internal record of the key undertakings being taken by agencies and organisations in
response to an increase in COVID-19 disinformation and online harms. The coordination of
the working group moved to DPMC’s National Security Group in July 2022.
Some information is withheld subject to the following section of the Act:
• Section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals.
5. I would like to request a copy of the “Landscape Report” Request for Proposal and
any other RFx documentation produced for the procurement of this “Landscape
Report” (14 February 2022 alternate agenda item 5)
I have decided to release the RFP document related to this procurement in full. This
procurement for independent analysis of the disinformation landscape was to support and
inform the COVID-19 response. The analysis and insights were used to build a strategic picture
of the mis- and disinformation context and to inform our response to mis- and disinformation
and approach to building resilience to its harms. Please note that the term of the contract
stipulated in the RFP was subsequently identified as extending beyond the COVID-19 Group’s
requirements. Due to this, the term of the contract was modified to a
1-month period for the disinformation landscape reports.
6 If the procurement of this “Landscape Report” has been awarded I would like to
request the identity of the organisation it was awarded to
I can confirm that the procurement was awarded to The Disinformation Project.
7. If the “Landscape Report” has been completed I would like to request a copy of it
I can confirm that the ‘Landscape Report’ has been completed. The two reports dated 11 July
2022 and 24 July 2022 are both provided in Attachment A.
The Landscape Report dated 11 July 2022 is released to you in part. Some information is
withheld subject to the fol owing section of the Act:
• Section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals,
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i), to protect the supply of similar information in the future,
• Section 9(2)(c), to protect the health or safety of members of the public, and
• Section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinion.
The Landscape report dated 25 July 2022 is released to you in part. Some information
is withheld subject to the following section of the Act:
• Section 6(d), as the making available of that information would be likely to endanger
the safety of any person,
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• Section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals,
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i), to protect the supply of similar information in the future,
• Section 9(2)(c), to protect the health or safety of members of the public, and
• Section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinion.
Whilst these reports provided interesting context for the greater information landscape, only
COVID-19 related material was required in line with the RFP. This COVID-19 material was
given to the COVID-19 communications team for their requirements
8. I would like to request a copy of the “Work Plan (6 month goals)” referred to in the 14
February 2022 alternate agenda (item 8)
I have decided to release the workplan (6 month goals) in full. This information is provided in
Attachment A.
9. If any other “Work Plans” for the group have been produced since the one referred
to in 14 February 2022 alternate agenda item 8, I would like to request copies of all these
more recent work plans as well.
I can confirm a DRAFT Communications and engagement work plan was produced, titled
‘
COVID-19 misinformation, online harms and scams’. This DRAFT workplan is released to you
in full. Please note the draft work plan was produced as a briefing tool to demonstrate
communications activities underway to address COVID-19 disinformation and online harms.
Not all projects listed have been undertaken by the COVID-19 response given the changing
environment. Examples of products developed can be found here:
https:/ covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/misinformation-scams-and-online-harm/.
For your reference, a list of acronyms and initialism used in the release material is below:
BAU – Business as usual
CCB – The COVID-19 Chief Executives Board
CERT – Computer Emergency Response Team
CPF – COVID-19 Protection Framework
CVIP – COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme, Ministry of Health
DIA – The Department of Internal Affairs
DART – Disinformation Assessment and Response Team, Ministry of Health
DPMC – The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
HRC – The Human Rights Commission
ISD – The Institute of Strategic Dialogue
MOH – The Ministry of Health
NAB – The National Assessments Bureau
TPM – Te Pūnaha Matatini
TRA – The Research Agency
UAC – Unite Against COVID-19
In making my decision, I have taken the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the Act
into account.
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You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review this decision under section
28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on DPMC’s website during our regular publication cycle.
Typically, information is released monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal
information including name and contact details wil be removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Marika Hughes
Acting Deputy Chief Executive
National Security Group
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