Privacy Transformation - Issue 60

PRIVACY

Judicial Review against DPC over slow procedure granted

Judicial Review against DPC over slow procedure granted

Irish High Court grants leave in case against Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) over extremely slow GDPR complaints procedures.

A Popular Bar Uses Smart Cameras to Monitor Customers’ Temperatures

Using the 127 Hikvision cameras to monitor those who go to work or play at Café en Seine raises questions about privacy, health data and consent.

Greens unclear on commitment to abolish public services card

Greens unclear on commitment to abolish public services card

The Green Party has declined to confirm whether it is still committed to the abolition of the Public Services Card, something it had pledged to do prior to the general election. The card had polarised Ireland’s political parties ahead of last February’s election, with three - Labour, Fianna Fáil, and Fine Gael - declining to commit to its abolition.

Opinion: Harnessing the collective potential of GDPR access rights: towards an ecology of transparency

Opinion: Harnessing the collective potential of GDPR access rights: towards an ecology of transparency

The European Commission recently released its first review of two years of application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). René Mahieu and Jef Ausloos do not agree with the largely positive self-assessment and explain their main points of contention by summarising their own submission to the Commission.

SECURITY & TECH

Telegram to temporarily refuse data requests from Hong Kong courts amid security law 'terrorism' fears

Telegram to temporarily refuse data requests from Hong Kong courts amid security law 'terrorism' fears

Messaging app Telegram has told HKFP that it will temporarily refuse data requests from the Hong Kong authorities until an international consensus emerges over recent political changes. It comes as Hongkongers abandon certain messaging and social media platforms following the enactment of the controversial national security law last month.

Gardaí to get 'electronic key' to intercept criminal gangs' encrypted messages

Gardaí to get 'electronic key' to intercept criminal gangs' encrypted messages

Laws are being drafted to give State agencies legal powers to intercept encrypted communications. The Department of Justice told the Irish Examiner that the proposals “are being prepared” for the Minister for Justice and the Government.

UK Investigatory Powers Commissioner to oversee UK-US Data Access Agreement

UK Investigatory Powers Commissioner to oversee UK-US Data Access Agreement

Independent Investigatory Powers Commissioner will provide oversight of the UK’s use of the UK-US Data Access Agreement.

Dutch national broadcaster saw ad revenue rise when it stopped tracking users.

Dutch national broadcaster saw ad revenue rise when it stopped tracking users.

Johnny Ryan, chief policy officer at privacy-focused browser biz Brave, has reported on how ad revenue increased when Dutch national broadcaster NPO stopped running third-party trackers on its online video website.

COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING APPS

One million people download Ireland's Covid tracker app

One million people download Ireland's Covid tracker app

A million people have now downloaded the Covid tracker app, the Department of Health said tonight.

Experts Issue Pre-Release Report Card on the HSE Covid-19 Tracker App

Experts Issue Pre-Release Report Card on the HSE Covid-19 Tracker App

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Digital Rights Ireland (DRI) have issued a report card evaluating the Covid-19 tracker app prior to its launch.

Here's an interesting thread on Hacker News discussing the App.

NI Covid app will be able to swap data with Republic’s app

NI Covid app will be able to swap data with Republic’s app

The Republic’s Covid Tracker app will be able to swap information with the app for Northern Ireland when the latter is released in coming weeks, the HSE has confirmed.

Coronavirus: Why Singapore turned to wearable contact-tracing tech

Coronavirus: Why Singapore turned to wearable contact-tracing tech

Singapore's TraceTogether Tokens are the latest effort to tackle Covid-19 with tech. But they have also reignited a privacy debate. The wearable devices complement the island's existing contact-tracing app, to identify people who might have been infected by those who have tested positive for the virus.

RESOURCES

EDPS: Flowcharts and Checklists on Data Protection

A collection of various checklists and flowcharts to help data controllers and processors, including a flowchart on data transfers in the context of Brexit.

EDPS: How EU Institutions carry out DPIAs

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published a Report on how EU institutions, bodies and agencies (EUIs) carry out Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) when processing information that presents a high risk to the rights and freedom of natural persons.

Researchers use AI to highlight Zoom's privacy risks

Researchers use AI to highlight Zoom's privacy risks

In a study, researchers demonstrated that AI could be used to cross-reference the names and images of Zoom meeting participants.

The study can be found here.