COVID-19 brings around new risks for the management and protection of health and other personal data
No. 9: Bringing you the news that matters in video privacy and security
A note from our Editor
Hi all,
These last couple of weeks has surfaced a multitude of privacy and security stories, involving the management and protection of health and other personal data. Roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines is bringing hope that the world will soon start to open up again but the mechanics of which may rest on the adoption of digital vaccination passports for travel and maybe even office entry.
Big tech's access to health data is coming under scrutiny once again as Google's acquisition of Fitbit has now been passed by the regulator. Fitbit had 28million users in 2019; all with smart watches that track their movements, heart-rate and associated Smartphone data from connected apps. Many are questioning big tech's growing ownership of sensitive personal data.
Cyber security concerns continue to grow. At the individual level, COVID-19 has created opportunities for fraudsters planning phishing attacks and for businesses, the implications of the Solar Winds hack have highlighted the vulnerabilities that can exist; even in heavily secured systems. Against this backdrop, the developments of Smart Cities is raising more questions on connecting sensitive data together into one system, and the US government is assembling a new AI Initiative Office to, amongst other things, protect against further cyber criminal activity.
Cybersecurity and data protection will attract more attention throughout 2021. The increasing amalgamation of our physical and digital lives is generating large volumes of life stream data that is increasingly held by a few large technology companies; the concentration of which highlights concerns for data security within and across those organisations. Cybersecurity and data protection has never been so important, and 2021 gives way for these two fundamentals to be at the forefront of action plans for governments, private enterprises and the public.
Emma
News
Do vaccine passports present a privacy issue?
Digital vaccine passports that prove you have antibodies are currently being explored, but many are concerned about the implications for privacy of personal identity and health data.
The future of smart cities: protection against cybercriminals
The connectivity of a smart city is both its greatest strength and biggest vulnerability. Possibilities such as device hijacking, infringement of human rights, and identity theft mean that cybersecurity is paramount.
Whatsapp and Facebook vs. Telegram and Signal
WhatsApp's latest privacy update announcement has led to many to start fleeing to Signal and Telegram, after disagreement (and mistrust) over how they treat customer data. Telegram's founder said it was 'the largest digital migration in human history'.
Police accidentally delete important records
213,000 records were deleted from UK-wide police databases due to a coding error; including fingerprint, DNA and arrest histories - all wiped from the Police National Computer (PNC). The Home Office is assessing the consequences of the mistake.
What happens to your health data now that Fitbit and Google are merging?
Google's acquisition of Fitbit has now been confirmed, despite many privacy concerns remaining. Google has stated that health and location data from Fitbit users will not be used for advertising.
AI Snippet of the Week
The White House launch a new AI Initiative
A National AI Initiative Office has been created by the new US government, with the aim to evolve AI research and development by opening up access to federal data and computing resources. It will also aid in the development of an AI risk-assessment framework and to evaluate their trustworthiness in government services.
Policy Updates
UK levied 2nd highest GDPR fines across 2020
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) collected the 2nd highest value of GDPR fines in 2020 after Italy; however, after collecting fines from only three cases, they were also one of the least active of European data protection regulators.
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