Privacy Law at Cook Islands

07 Apr 2025 --
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The Cook Islands' privacy and data protection framework is evolving, with several key laws and policies addressing the handling of personal information, particularly in governmental and financial contexts.

Key Privacy and Data Protection Laws

1. **Official Information Act 2008*

This Act establishes the right of Cook Islands citizens and residents to access and correct personal information held by government agencie. It mandates that government bodies respond to information requests within 20 working days and provides a mechanism for appeals through the Ombudsma. The Act emphasizes transparency and accountability in the public sectr

This legislation authorizes the use of digital registers for official records and outlines requirements for their security and integrit. It includes provisions for the protection and rectification of digital records, ensuring that electronic data is managed securely and accuratey

3. **Financial Institutions (Provision of Customer Information) Act 2013*

This Act permits financial institutions in the Cook Islands to disclose customer information to foreign governments under specific agreement. The disclosures are intended to assist foreign governments in determining tax liabilities of customers, overriding other legal provisions or contracts that might limit such disclosurs

4. **International Trusts Act 1984*

While not a data protection law per se, this Act includes strong confidentiality provisions for international trusts established in the Cook Island. It criminalizes the unauthorized disclosure of trust information and mandates that civil proceedings related to trusts be conducted privately, thereby enhancing privacy for trust participans

🔐 Data Protection Practices and Guidanc

The Cook Islands' Get Safe Online initiative provides guidance on data protection best practices, emphasizing the importance f:

Processing peronal data fairly and lawfuly.- Notifying individuals about the use of their daa.- Ensuring data accuracy and relevane. Implementing appropriate security measures to protect daa.sponding promptly to individuals' requests for access to their dta

🛡️ Government Initiatives on Data Securiy

In 2024, the Cook Islands launched the Protective Security Policy Framework, introducing a classification system for government documents to enhance data protection. This initiative aims to safeguard national information and build confidence among international partners in sharing confidential ata

🌐 Accessing Cook Islands Laws

The Laws of the Cook Islands are now consolidated and freely accessible online, providing up-to-date legal information, including those related to privacy and data protetion