Data sovereignty and privacy implications of satellite internet services
Sam Brown made this Official Information request to Privacy Commissioner
The request was refused by Privacy Commissioner.
From: Sam Brown
Dear Privacy Commissioner,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request:
- Any complaints, inquiries, or investigations received by your office regarding satellite internet providers' data collection practices, data retention policies, or handling of New Zealand user information.
- Any assessment, advice, or guidance provided regarding whether satellite internet providers routing New Zealand internet traffic through foreign jurisdictions (particularly United States data centres) complies with New Zealand privacy law, including consideration of Privacy Act requirements and international data transfer obligations.
- Any advice provided to government agencies or Ministers regarding data sovereignty implications of government agencies, emergency services, or critical infrastructure operators using satellite internet services where traffic routing and data storage occurs outside New Zealand jurisdiction.
- Any correspondence with satellite internet providers regarding their privacy practices, data handling procedures, or compliance with New Zealand privacy requirements.
- Any assessment of whether users of satellite internet services receive adequate privacy protections compared to terrestrial internet services, particularly regarding exposure to foreign signals intelligence collection or disclosure requirements under foreign legislation such as the United States CLOUD Act.
Context: I am seeking to understand whether privacy and data sovereignty implications have been adequately assessed as New Zealand increases reliance on satellite internet services that route traffic through foreign jurisdictions.
Yours faithfully,
Sam Brown
From: OIA
Privacy Commissioner
Thank you for your message. The office is closed until Monday, 12 January
2026. We will acknowledge your request when the Office reopens. Please
note that the the OIA response time is extended to allow for the holiday
break. Under the OIA, 25 December – 15 January (inclusive) are not counted
for the purposes of the 20 working day timeframe.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Team
From: OIA
Privacy Commissioner
Tçnâ koe
Please find attached the Privacy Commissioner’s response to your official
information request.
Aku mihi
Sharyn Leonard
Executive Assistant (Legal) | Kaiâwhina Mâtâmua – Ture
Office of the Privacy Commissioner Te Mana Mâtâpono Matatapu
PO Box 10094, Wellington 6140
privacy.org.nz
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References
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Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).

