Privacy Transformation - Issue 44
What an extraordinary few weeks it has been for Europe and the world, as nations try to get a handle on the COVID-19 outbreak, and societies adjust to what is, for the moment, the new normal.
This issue focuses on privacy-related stories connected to the outbreak, illustrating how some governments are using privacy intrusive techniques in an attempt to bring the outbreak under control.
It is times like these that the principles of necessity and proportionality need to come to the fore, and we ensure that as a society, we emerge from this period without our privacy eroded beyond repair.
Stay well, think of others and wash your hands.
- Alan
PRIVACY
COVID-19 tracking data and surveillance risks are more dangerous than their rewards
Coronavirus data tracking map and other surveillance techniques have civil liberties problems.
Analysis of emergency COVID19 legislation - Irish Council for Civil Liberties
We are in the midst of a national and international emergency, of the extraordinary sort that necessitates interferences with our rights for the greater public good. ICCL supports the Government’s efforts to meet this unprecedented challenge. However, the Government and Oireachtas must act within the Constitution and ensure that any restrictions of rights are proportionate and only as invasive as is necessary to protect public health.
How Italy, South Korea differ in tackling coronavirus outbreak
Seoul and Rome took different approaches to combating the spread with significant contrast in outcomes.
Coronavirus: Israel enables emergency spy powers
Israel allows security agencies to track the mobile-phone data of suspected cases.
Phone location data could be used to help UK coronavirus effort
BT, owner of UK mobile operator EE, is in talks with the government about using its phone location and usage data to monitor whether coronavirus limitation measures such as asking the public to stay at home are working.
Coronavirus: Italy resists disaster with cultural pursuits
‘From the point of view of solidarity, beautiful things are happening ... I feel proud to be Italian’.
To end this section on as positive note — Italy is showing how democracies can achieve public compliance with strict quarantine measures without the sweeping powers, surveillance and manpower available to authoritarian states like China.
SECURITY & TECH
Employers Take Notice: Increased Cybersecurity Threats Amid Coronavirus Precautions
During the COVID-19 outbreak, many employers around the world are seeking to prioritise the well-being and safety of their employees by asking them to work remotely instead of risking exposure while commuting and working in populated office spaces. Organisations need to take into account the increased risks to the security of their networks, systems, and data during this time.
GUIDANCE
Statement of the EDPB Chair on COVID-19 outbreak
Statement of the EDPB Chair on the processing of personal data in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.
RESOURCES
EDPS 2019 Annual Report
This Annual Report provides an insight into all EDPS activities in 2019, which was the last year of a five-year EDPS mandate. EDPS activities therefore focused on consolidating the achievements of previous years, assessing the progress made and starting to define priorities for the future.ar of transition