COVID-19: Don't breach data privacy with tracking apps, warns EU

The European Commission's digital chief Thierry Breton said apps should be used temporarily, voluntarily and based on anonymised data. /sankai /Getty Creative / VCG

EU countries using mobile phone apps to help contain the spread of the coronavirus have been warned the technology must not breach the bloc's rules on data and privacy.

The European Commission has laid down a series of guidelines for the use of the apps that comply with its General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Anti-COVID mapping apps have proved popular in South Korea, China and Singapore.

Speaking on Thursday the EC's digital chief Thierry Breton stated their use should be temporary, voluntary and based on anonymised data, adding "Strong privacy safeguards are a prerequisite for the uptake of these apps and therefore their usefulness."

Civil society groups have cautioned that misuse of data gathered from anti-COVID apps may lead to a rise in discrimination against racial minorities and other disadvantaged communities.

The European Commission has laid down a series of guidelines for the use of the apps that comply with its General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). JOHN THYS / POOL / AFP

In a joint statement earlier this month, Human Rights Watch and other civil society groups warned:

"We cannot allow the COVID-19 pandemic to serve as an excuse for indefinite surveillance (by governments)", adding that any use of intelligence must be transparent and proportionate to the threat.

Speaking on Thursday, the European Commission also stated that because the apps are not currently being used for contact tracing, the use of location data should be avoided. This is in direct contrast to policy in Turkey where the health ministry has announced the rollout of a new app that tracks both individuals and their contacts to ensure rules on self isolation are being observed.

Meanwhile software developers from eight EU countries are reportedly working on a new app that complies with EU regulation, using bluetooth technology to monitor an individual's risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

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