Pump the brakes on COVID data tracking, advocacy groups warn

Despite the extraordinary desire to stop the spread of COVID-19, there is still no justification for mass unwarranted surveillance of identifiable people, according to a joint statement of principles released Wednesday by five different Canadian civil liberties and advocacy organizations. According to the statement of principles from OpenMedia, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, and the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa (CIPPIC), any use of data to track the spread of the virus should be discussed "transparently and openly." "Even in times of crisis, mass digital surveillance tools pose a unique and insidious threat to our fundamental values," the statement reads, laying out seven principles that the groups say should ground any use of data to track the virus. According to the statement, authorities should "prioritize approaches which do not require any surveillance or data gathering to encourage people to stay at home," arguing that "any surveillance-based measures must only be relied on where demonstrably necessary and as a last resort." The statement comes as the federal government and several government agencies are in talks with various levels of government about launching apps that would track the virus. Another principle in the joint statement argues that any decisions should be made through a legislative process, with "transparent and open public debate." "As the federal Privacy Act remains an inadequate and outdated instrument, data gathering must be accompanied by binding rules to ensure data minimization, strict necessity and proportionality," the statement reads. The statement says that in the designing of any system, "options that allow people the choice to volunteer their data must be strongly preferred to non-voluntary data collection." It also says that any such measures “must ensure that data collection is minimized, limited to collecting data that is strictly necessary for established public health considerations directly relating to the declared emergency, and proportionate, keeping in mind the sensitivity of the data being collected," the five groups argue. The statement also argues that the data must be used for public health purposes alone, shielding of collection efforts from security, law enforcement or intelligence agencies. "The current pandemic situation is a public health crisis, not a matter of national security. Security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies must not be involved in any form of public health surveillance or data collection," the statement reads. "Moreover, the line between the data held by Canada’s health and security establishments must be maintained throughout." Laura Tribe, executive director of OpenMedia, said in a release that while the use of data will be "critical" to stop the virus, the government should not resort to "draconian" methods. "There may be great pressure to adopt extraordinary measures in response to this situation, but the government must consider the cost to our privacy, values and human rights. How our government treats its citizens in this time of emergency will be one of the greatest tests of our democracy,” she said in the release.

Pump the brakes on COVID data tracking, advocacy groups warn

Brief | April 15, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Pump the brakes on COVID data tracking, advocacy groups warn

Brief | April 15, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Eastlink unveils video streaming app

OPC supports PIAC call for CRTC to clarify rules for tracing apps

Alberta tracing app review could ‘inspire confidence’: privacy expert

Privacy commissioner hasn’t approved new gov’t contact tracing app

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us