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COVID-19

EDPS response to the COVID-19 outbreak

'The outbreak of Covid-19 is affecting our lives at an unprecedented pace. It is testing the resilience of our societies as we respond to this global crisis and try to contain its consequences, both in the short and in the long run'.

Wojciech Wiewiórowski, European Data Protection Supervisor

 

 

Covid-19 outbreak is also testing fundamental rights to data protection and privacy. EU Member States, EU institutions and Big Tech companies are trying to explore solutions to tackle the uncontrolled spread of the virus.

In the past weeks, contact tracing apps and data localisation have become a constant topic in the political agenda of the Union. Such technologies may have strong consequences on EU citizens’ lives and lead to growing inequalities.

The EDPS is cooperating with the EU institutions and the European Data Protection Board to ensure fundamental rights to be respected.

As a result, we established a Covid-19 task force to follow developments and to prepare for the future of data protection and privacy after Covid-19 crisis.

 

EDPS activities and action plan

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the EDPS has decided to activate its Business Continuity Plan. All EDPS staff have been teleworking as of 13 March 2020.

Read more below

External sources

 

Blogpost: Data for the public good: Building a healthier digital future

EDPS Formal Comments on the proposed European Health Union package

Blogpost: Carrying the torch in times of darkness

Blogpost: The moment you realise the world has changed: re-thinking the EDPS Strategy

 

 

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8
May
2020
DPO News

47th Virtual Meeting of the Data Protection Officers and the EDPS

47th Meeting of the Data Protection Officers of the EU institutions and the European Data Protection Supervisor, virtual meeting.

Agenda
Available languages: English
Public Communication
Available languages: English
Use of social media by EU institutions and bodies
Available languages: English
Monitoring social media - risks
Available languages: English
Use of social media - technical aspects mitigating measures, privacy friendly social networks
Available languages: English
Registers - best practices findings when inspecting
Available languages: English
Microsoft findings and recommendations
Available languages: English
Covid-19 and data protection
Available languages: English
Topics
COVID-19
Regulation 2018/1725
7
May
2020
TechDispatch

TechDispatch #1/2020: Contact Tracing with Mobile Applications

In public health, contact tracing is the process to identify individuals who have been in contact with infected persons. Proximity tracing with smartphone applications and sensors could support contact tracing. It involves processing of sensitive personal data.
What is Contact Tracing?

During epidemics of infectious diseases, such as the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it is important to lower the number of new infection cases and to stop it eventually. Therefore the infection chain of onward transmissions must be interrupted. When those persons known to be infected reveal their recent contacts, other infected persons may be identified, informed and e.g. isolated already early on, even before they become aware of their infection. The process to identify contacts of known cases is called contact tracing.
A person becomes a contact of a primary case by e.g. face-to-face contact within a short distance over some time span, physical contact or spending time indoors together–all within the incubation period of e.g. up to 2 weeks for the coronavirus disease.

To establish the risk exposure in contact tracing, information about the distance between the persons and the duration of contact are important. Close contacts with high-risk exposure may then become subject to different rules or treatments.

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To read the PDF edition, click the EN button below.

Available languages: English
Topics
COVID-19
Technologies
27
Apr
2020
Speeches & Articles

Introductory remarks before the committee for European Affairs of the senate of the Republic of France - Wojciech Wiewiórowski

Introductory remarks by Wojciech Wiewiórowski  at the committee for European Affairs of the senate of the Republic of France (via videolink).

Remarks
Available languages: English
Questions and Answers
Available languages: English
Topics
COVID-19
General Data Protection Regulation
Health