Part of The Report Card for the HSE/Department of Health Covid tracker app includes reference to Google Firebase and Twillo possibly obtaining patient data
This morning/afternoon.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Digital Rights Ireland (DRI) have issued a report card evaluating the HSE/Department of Health Covid-19 tracker app prior to its launch.
How did it do?
Regarding the app’s efficacy, experts have given the app a D.
Dr Stephen Farrell, Research Fellow, School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin (speaking in a personal capacity, said:
“We have no clear evidence before us that the app accurately detects close contacts to Covid-19. In the alternative, our independent research shows that app signalling accuracy varies substantially depending on user environments.”
Regarding the app’s clear and limited purpose, experts have given the app a D.
ICCL’s Information Rights Director Elizabeth Farries said:
“European data protection guidance says Covid-19 apps must pursue a single purpose of contact tracing to alert people potentially exposed to Covid-19. Unfortunately, location data and symptom tracking extend beyond this single purpose.”
Regarding the app’s statutory oversight, experts have given the app a C.
Digital Rights Ireland Director Antóin Ó Lachtnáin said:
“We would question the legal basis of consent the government appears to be relying on under the GDPR. Furthermore, long term, we are very concerned that Google/Apple will have ultimate control over most of the EU’s Covid-19 app ecosystem, and not our governments.”
We’re not angry.
Just disappointed.
FIGHT!
Full report card here.
Experts Issue Pre-Release Report Card on the HSE Covid-19 Tracker App (ICCL)
