Dr Bryce Edwards: The Watchdog that didn’t bark in the MisManageMyHealth scandal

In June 2025, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner received an anonymous tip. Someone alleged that Manage My Health had exposed names, emails, and passwords through its patient portal. The OPC did what it could: it advised the company to “consider” stronger protections. Six months later, hackers stole 430,000 files containing some of the most intimate health data imaginable.

Why couldn’t the watchdog do more? Because our watchdog has been muzzled, starved, and trained not to bite.