Episode 25: Track and Trace apps: What price for data privacy? We need to find better solutions.

GDPR Now!

In today’s episode, we are delving into the issues we discussed in our previous episode #24 on the NHS Track and Trace app and considering in more detail the legal, privacy and practicality barriers to many track and trace apps in Europe.

We discuss the take up of Track and Trace apps in the EU and find it is mostly 30% of the population and lower. Data privacy when using apps has been protected due to EU GDPR, however, other basic freedoms have been taken from us and our way of life severely impacted over the course of 2020. Track and trace apps have not had the hoped-for beneficial impact in the EU. Had we taken a different approach to using more data and made the apps mandatory, could the outcomes have been different?

What does this mean in practise for track and trace apps as future solutions to help governments manage pandemics? Compare and contrast to other Asian countries.

If 70 - 80% app usage is realistically needed to be effective, then why did we not make track and trace apps mandatory? What are we to learn from countries in Asia?

How do we find a rapid and effective way to discuss and agree the extended use of our data to improve outcomes, rapidly, either during pandemics or outside of them? As Privacy, Legal and Tech professionals we must continue this conversation and find a framework for agreeing the greater use of data in a mandatory way to support better pandemic and health outcomes.

The economic costs of lockdowns are extremely high and have a direct effect on a nation's ability to provide future healthcare. Our short term fix to today's problem could cause many more problems for the future.

GDPR Now! Is brought to you by Data Protection 4 Business & This Is DPO.
www.dpo4business.co.uk
www.thisisdpo.co.uk.

Guests
Roger Marlow
Roger has worked in software for over 30 years with experience in building software for the finance, retail, automative and government sectors. He has been involved in the creation of several companies including a healthcare technology company that works for the NHS.

Guests
Mark Sherwood-Edwards
Mark helps CEOs negotiate smarter, more profitable, contracts. During his time spent working in law firms and also as in-house counsel he specialised in contracts as well as sales-contracting transformation, in organisations across the fintech, adtech, tech and outsourcing sectors.

Founder
Clearview Legal
https://clearviewlegal.co.uk/

Special Guests: Mark Sherwood-Edwards and Roger Marlow.