Dealership acts after privacy breach

Armstrong’s has confirmed an employee at one of its Christchurch dealerships recently broke privacy rules after accessing the NZTA’s Motochek website for personal reasons.

The company says as soon as it became aware of the issue, it notified the transport agency and the Privacy Commissioner “as a precaution”, reports the NZ Herald.

Armstrong’s adds it was disappointed by the recent incident when the employee “accessed ownership name and address details of a vehicle using the Motochek website for non-work purposes, in relation to a personal legal dispute”.

The group, which operates 15 dealerships nationwide, explains it has started a formal process with the employee and reminded staff of their responsibilities when handling personal information, the NZ Herald reports.

Motochek allows registered users to access Motor Vehicle Register information electronically and the Privacy Commission confirmed it had received notification of a breach from Armstrong’s on September 9. 

Andy Knackstedt, an NZTA  spokesman, told the NZ Herald the agency investigates all reports of potential improper access of the Motor Vehicle Register but was unable to comment on specific complaints.