| Ensuring data privacy as we battle COVID-19 - 14/04/2020 |
| OECD |
| International and Regional Organizations | International |
| OECD's key messages on how to ensure data privacy as we battle COVID-19. - Many governments are taking unprecedented measures to track, trace and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), by turning to digital technologies and advanced analytics to collect, process and share data for effective front-line responses. - While the exceptional measures implemented or envisaged in some countries may ultimately prove effective in limiting the spread of the virus, some approaches have proven controversial in terms of their risk of violating privacy and other fundamental rights of citizens, particularly when such measures lack transparency and public consultation.- Privacy enforcement authorities have generally endorsed a pragmatic and contextual approach at times of crisis or a state of emergency, and exercised enforcement discretion recalling that respect for fundamental data protection and privacy principles do not stand in the way of necessary and proportionate front-line responses to COVID-19. - Policy makers, in consultation with privacy enforcement authorities, must assess the possible trade-offs in data utilisation during this crisis (reconciling the risks and benefits), but must ensure that any extraordinary measures are proportionate to the risks and are implemented with full transparency, accountability and a commitment to immediately cease or reverse exceptional uses of data when the crisis is over. " |
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Source Link Keywords: data privacy; contact tracing |