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THREAD: Canada’s COVID-19 #ContactTracing app, COVID Alert, goes live today. Thanks to the involvement of Canada’s privacy oversight bodies the app passes muster 
. But the announcement also highlights why serious privacy law reform is critical. #cdnpoli https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-pandemic-app-ontario-1.5670239
. But the announcement also highlights why serious privacy law reform is critical. #cdnpoli https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-pandemic-app-ontario-1.5670239
Moving forward, the core role of both fed. and prov. Privacy Commissioner’s offices must to be baked into our laws from the start. It’s vital non-partisan bodies like these vet mass initiatives which handle our sensitive personal data and can pose a huge risk to our privacy.
Both the federal and Ontario privacy commissioners’ offices reviewed the app, giving their recommendations to the government based on key privacy principles. Both bodies feel the app now meets these principles—a solid win for privacy and oversight!
https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/speeches/2020/s-d_20200507/
https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/speeches/2020/s-d_20200507/
The app also appears in-line with the civil society developed principles that OpenMedia, @ICLMG, @BCCLA and @CIPPIC developed and presented to the government. We’re grateful to community and peers who made themselves heard w/us on this important issue! https://openmedia.org/article/item/covid-19-and-your-privacy-bringing-your-voices-to-decision-makers
The positive assessment of the OPC’s report, however, stops short of giving Canada’s privacy laws the all-clear. It raises the alarm around our outdated Privacy Act, and its inability to effectively regulate technologies like #contacttracing apps.
The government claims the Privacy Act doesn’t apply to the new #contacttracing app, and they did not have to seek OPC approval. The gov maintains that the app doesn’t collect personal information, despite widespread concern over data sensitivity and threats to democratic values.
If something like the COVID Alert #contacttracing app isn’t subject to the Privacy Act, that's a flashing neon sign that we need serious, modern #privacyreform in #Canada.
In the digital age, people in Canada are more concerned than ever about their #privacy. One of the major factors fueling this concern is a lack of trust in the government to adequately protect our personal information.
Time and again, the government has failed to effectively safeguard our privacy in law, or provide meaningful penalties when it is violated. Our laws in Canada are nowhere near strong/modern enough to address today’s issues, from app safety to limiting biometric #surveillance.
To be in a position to make a #contacttracing app a full success, the government needed to demonstrate to people in Canada that privacy and #dataprotection are be taken more seriously—starting with commitment to substantially update our privacy laws.
Without that action, the government has failed to build up the level of trust with the public necessary for an initiative like COVID Alert to be well-received. And our recent poll with Innovative Research Group reflects just that: https://openmedia.org/press/item/contact-tracing-app
Last week’s poll showed that only 29% of people in Canada would definitely or very likely download the federal government’s Covid Alert #contacttracing app. The most commonly given reason for lack of confidence was concern over privacy protections (41%)
Canada needs to do something about our outdated privacy protections. Will you join the 14,000 people who are calling on our government to bring Canada’s privacy laws into the 21st century? #cdnpoli http://openmedia.org/PrivacyReform-tw
