This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Test and Trace programme 'breaks GDPR data law'
The Open Rights Group has argued that the government’s Test and Trace programme has broken a key data protection law.
The Department of Health has conceded that the initiative to trace contacts of people infected with coronavirus was launched without carrying out an assessment of its impact on privacy, something that privacy campaigners say makes the programme unlawful.
Having begun on 28 May, Test and Trace involves people being asked to share sensitive personal information, which can include: their name, date of birth and postcode; who they live with; places they recently visited; and names and contact details of people they have recently been in close contact with, including sexual partners.
The Open Rights Group had threatened to go to court to force the government to conduct a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) - a requirement under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for projects that process personal data. A letter from the Department of Health to the group confirmed that a DPIA was a legal requirement and had not been obtained.
Jim Killock, the grotto’s executive director, said: "A crucial element in the fight against the pandemic is mutual trust between the public and the government, which is undermined by their operating the programme without basic privacy safeguards.”
The Information Commissioner's Office said that, while it recognised the urgency in rolling out the programme, if the public were to have confidence in handing over their data and that of their friends, ‘people need to understand how their data will be safeguarded and how it will be used’. The ICO is now providing guidance to the government as ‘a critical friend’.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
