Last week police services across Ontario quietly got access to a new database – a COVID-19 testing database, with the names, addresses, and dates of birth of those who have tested positive for the virus.
Providing personal health information directly to law enforcement is an extraordinary invasion of privacy. Such a measure should only be taken when clearly authorized by law and absolutely necessary given the particular circumstances.
In early April the government passed an emergency regulation to facilitate the sharing of COVID-19 status with first responders. At the time the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario objected to the emergency order authorizing this disclosure because ...
The government was not able to demonstrate that the order was necessary to enhance public safety.
The regulation was passed despite their objections.
Now, Ontarians’ personal health information has started to flow to law enforcement.
Yesterday, CCLA joined with three other organizations to write to the Solicitor General and question the utility and the legality of these measures. You can read the full letter here: ccla.org/cclanewsite/wp…
