Privacy and Contact Tracing Applications Presented by: Francesca Mazzi Date: 23.6.2020 Context - COVID-19 disease - Global health challenge → declared a global pandemic by the OMS - Issues: contagion rate + timing of symptoms development + asymptomatic cases overburden of healthcare structures - Contagion: physical proximity between individuals (+ surfaces, air, etc.) - Global effort against the pandemic - Goal: to keep the contagion rate under control - Initial measures: lockdown, quarantine, tracing of positives - Subsequent measures: gradual re-openings, contact tracing applications Contact Tracing Applications - Aimed at tracing the spread of the disease to contain it. - Digital contact tracing - identifying persons who may have been in contact with an infected individual. - Such tracing activity was already done by national health authorities - without an app. Challenge - - Privacy • Public Health Vs Privacy? • Technology And Privacy? How to strike a balance between the interests at stake? Analysis Of Contact Tracing Apps - Literature review of databases using key terms → selection of the applications - Inclusion of worldwide applications (no geographical limitations) - Research about single applications features on available portals - Evaluation of the legal and technical aspects in light of selected legal instruments Legal Instruments - General Data Protection Regulation - The Privacy Code of Conduct on mobile health apps of the European Commission - The Guidelines on the use of location data and contact tracing tools in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak of the European Data Protection Board Analysis Of Contact Tracing Apps - Verification of compliance of 18 contact tracing applications w/ legal instruments - Interpretation of the legal instruments to evaluate the technical features of the apps Key Elements - Voluntary – Mandatory - Centralized – Decentralized - GPS-Bluetooth (Location Data Vs Proximity Data) - Data Minimization - Data Retention - Right Not To Be Subject To Automated Decision Making Conclusions - Preferable Approach: • Voluntary - • Decentralized • Bluetooth • Proximity Data • Limited Time And Scope • No Obligations On Individuals Just From The App Efficacy Of Contact Tracing Apps Depends On The Percentage Of Population That Uses It - Need For Governments To Strengthens The Level Of Trust Of Their Citizens (Transparency And Involvement) - Cultural Differences Impact On The Acceptance And The Use Of The Apps Worldwide