AI and the Right to Privacy

AI is everywhere - from the apps we use to how we’re hired, taught, treated, work, and even watched. Whether it’s facial recognition in airports or at the mall or emotion-tracking in meetings, the classroom or at home, AI is quietly reshaping businesses and society - and our personal lives.

But here’s the catch: as these innovations promise smarter services, increased personalisation and convenience, they can also raise uncomfortable questions. Who controls our data? How can it be used? And how do we protect things like privacy, our values and our identity—when decisions are shaped by machines?

We’ll dive into the promises, the pitfalls, and what “getting the balance right” might look like. You’ll walk away with fresh insights, real-world examples, and some practical tips for individuals, parents, businesses, policymakers, and anyone who wants a say in our tech future.

Bio

Annette Mills is a Professor in the Business School at the University of Canterbury. She explores the human side of emerging technologies: how we use them, how they shape what we do—and what this means for our work, privacy, and well-being.  Her work has been published in leading international journals and presented in public forums. Annette is also active outside the university. She’s a committee member of the Privacy Foundation New Zealand and convenes its Children’s Privacy Working Group, which advocates for better protection of the digital lives of tamariki and rangatahi. In 2020, she was named a Fellow of the International Association for Information Systems in recognition of her contributions.

Event

Tuesday 16 September, 6:30pm @Muy Muy, 44 Welles Street, Christchurch Central 8011

Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Dr Peter Field