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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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19
Apr
2021

Annual Report 2020

The year 2020 was unique for the world and, by extension, for the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). Like many other organisations, the EDPS had to adapt its working methods as an employer, but also its work since the COVID-19 health crisis strengthened the call for the protection of individuals' privacy. 

This Annual Report provides an insight into all EDPS activities in 2020. 

HTML Version: EN

Summary (HTML): EN - FR - DE

Full text of Annual Report (PDF)
Available languages: English
Summary (PDF)
Available languages: Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, Estonian, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Irish, Croatian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Maltese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Finnish, Swedish
31
Mar
2021

EDPB-EDPS Joint Opinion on the Digital Green Certificate

EDPB-EDPS Joint Opinion 04/2021 on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates on vaccination, testing and recovery to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic (Digital Green Certificate).

26
Feb
2021

Legal basis for manual contact tracing of COVID-19 at EBA

EDPS Opinion on the European Banking Authority’s (‘the EBA’) consultation on the legal basis for manual contact tracing of COVID-19.

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