WHO’s Dr Michael Ryan raises privacy concerns arising from coronavirus tech

In response to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, companies and researchers have raced to develop new testing kits, screening technology and other measures to limits its spread.

However, speaking yesterday during a press briefing, Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) health emergencies programme, warned that despite the urgency, people’s right to digital privacy cannot be overlooked.

He said this this is likely the first pandemic of the 21st century in which “the full power of information technology, social media, AI is being applied to almost every aspect of this response”.

“We do always have to have in the back of our minds – especially when it comes to collecting information on individual citizens or tracking their whereabouts or movements – that there are always very serious data protection, human rights principles that re involved,” he said.

“We’re very, very cognisant of that and we want to ensure that all products that are developed are done in the most sensitive way possible and that we never step beyond the principles of individual freedoms, rights for individuals and for society.”

Ryan welcomed the fact that the WHO has received app ideas from people as young as 14, describing these efforts as the “most amazing outpouring of support and collaboration that I have seen in my career”.

‘Coronavirus is pushing us over the edge’

Many nations have started to deploy a considerable amount of technology to track the movement of its citizens since the outbreak. According to CNBC, citizens in China have become weary of CCTV equipment being deployed outside their homes, as well as new digital barcodes being released on mobile apps that details a person’s health status.

Maya Wang, a senior researcher on China for Human Rights Watch said: “Coronavirus is pushing us over the edge and … perhaps institutionalising these systems and in addition, making general public to become more accepting of these more intrusive measure.”

The Irish Data Protection Commission published guidelines earlier this month on the importance of data protection and legal framework for employers and others in response to the coronavirus.

“Data protection law does not stand in the way of the provision of healthcare and the management of public health issues; nevertheless there are important considerations which should be taken into account when handling personal data in these contexts, particularly health and other sensitive data,” it said.

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