Shroff was commenting on results of a survey conducted by the Commission entitled International Disclosures and Overseas ICT Survey. Fifty government agencies and private companies responded to the survey including Air New Zealand, Fonterra, major banks and the majority of government ministries.

"About 50 percent of survey respondents said they sent personal information offshore for a variety of reasons, many [did so] on a regular basis" says Mrs Shroff.

"But the survey also reveals that almost a third don't let individuals know they are sending their personal information overseas, with seven respondents stating people were only told if they asked. So people frequently have no idea their information is being stored or processed overseas."

She says that a vast majority of survey respondents use mobile internet or smart phones, yet didn't appear to understand that this entailed the use of overseas ICT infrastructure.

"Obviously, many businesses and government agencies do not see the use of these devices as involving overseas infrastructure, which it usually does," she says.