8 November 2022
Harold N/A
[FYI request #19609 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0240
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request for material related to The Disinformation Project and
COVID-19 Interagency Disinformation Group
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 17 October
2022. You requested:
Thank you for your response. I would like to make a follow up request for the following:
ONE: In response to an OIA requested I submitted to DPMC earlier this year (Ref: OIA-
2021/22-1563), I was told:
“In the last month, DPMC contracted The Disinformation Project… for two landscape
reports and one deep dive report on a topic of choice.”
Quote from this response letter:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Fre
quest%2F20099%2Fresponse%2F76770%2Fattach%2F4%2F4600004%25201%2520
OIA%2520202122%25201563%2520Harold.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cinformation%40d
pmc.govt.nz%7C3dd7f88dddb0467fe5ab08daafab2c0c%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f
38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C638015450098530355%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d
8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7
C1000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zZXGwe2N6f3sKzBApIGHXJImF9Dm1CrHkon8Mq5z3rY
%3D&reserved=0
If this “deep dive report on a topic of choice” has been completed, I would like to
request a copy of it.
TWO: I would like to request copies of the agenda and minutes (if any) for all
meetings of the COVID 19 interagency disinformation and online harms group
held since 28 July 2022.
THREE: I would like to request a copy of the current COVID 19 interagency
disinformation and online harms group action log. For clarity, I mean the action
log released to me in your 5 October response, here (pages 1 to 6):
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Fre
quest%2F19609%2Fresponse%2F78142%2Fattach%2F5%2FRelease%2520Docume
nt%25205%252010%252022.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cinformation%40dpmc.govt.nz%
7C3dd7f88dddb0467fe5ab08daafab2c0c%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%
7C0%7C0%7C638015450098530355%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4
wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000%7C%7
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4660957
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
C%7C&sdata=ZPTM1ab6cdyavlyJjEKZVqAhp%2BXezZJJ290j%2FiOVZMw%3D&rese
rved=0
But the action log as it currently stands, including closed and completed action points.
FOUR: On page 3 of the above document a “draft paper on the proposal for
government response to misinformation” is referred to (action point 16):
“21-October-2021: Circulate to attendees draft paper on the proposal for government
response to misinformation”
I would like to request a copy of the “draft paper” referred to here.
FIVE: On page 7 of the above document a “regular update to the system on false
information key themes, media updates and tools available” is referred to, scheduled to
be implemented by DPMC COVID-19 Group Comms Team beginning mid-March 2022.
If these “regular updates” were produced, I would like to request the dates that they
were issued.
SIX: On page 8 of the above document, “comms planning on the impacts of Russian
disinformation given the Ukraine situation” by DPMC National Security Group is
referred to. I would like to request a copy of this Russian disinformation-related “comms
planning”. “”
I have decided under section 15A of the Act to extend the time limits for deciding on your
request by an additional 25 working days. Consequently, the extended due date for your
response will be Tuesday, 20 December 2022.
The extension is required because of the consultations needed to make a decision on your
request. Despite the extension, we are able to respond to parts Two and Three of your
request (bolded) which I will do so in turn and will endeavour to respond to the remainder of
your request as soon as possible.
TWO: I would like to request copies of the agenda and minutes (if any) for all meetings
of the COVID 19 interagency disinformation and online harms group held since 28 July
2022.
I can confirm that since 28 July 2022 there have been no further minutes or agendas
produced by the COVID-19 interagency disinformation and online harms group. Your request
is therefore declined under section 18(e), as the documents alleged to contain the
information requested do not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate them, cannot be
found.
THREE: I would like to request a copy of the current COVID 19 interagency
disinformation and online harms group action log. For clarity, I mean the action log
released to me in your 5 October response
I can confirm that the
COVID 19 interagency disinformation and online harms group action
log provided to you in our response dated 5 October 2022 is the most up to date version and
no further updates / iterations have been produced. I am therefore declining your request
under 18(e), as the updated document alleged to contain the information requested does not
exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
4660957
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You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Tony Lynch
Deputy Chief Executive
National Security Group
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