Trudeau announces national #COVID19 tracing app coming.
cbc.ca/news/politics/…
Despite some good steps to protect privacy, a thread on why this is not the technological panacea for privacy - or COVID - some might hope:
cc @justintrudeau @DavidLametti @PattyHajdu @NavdeepSBains
cbc.ca/news/politics/…
Despite some good steps to protect privacy, a thread on why this is not the technological panacea for privacy - or COVID - some might hope:
cc @justintrudeau @DavidLametti @PattyHajdu @NavdeepSBains
1. Contact tracing apps are fundamentally reliant on rapid, and ubiquitous, testing. Which has been far from consistently available throughout Canada. That means that these apps do not have the full picture, right from the start.
2. But let's pretend for a moment that we have universal, daily testing.
Low adoption rates have rendered these kinds of apps ineffective around the world. These apps are voluntary (which is good!) -- but they only work if everyone is using them. Which people just aren't.
Low adoption rates have rendered these kinds of apps ineffective around the world. These apps are voluntary (which is good!) -- but they only work if everyone is using them. Which people just aren't.
3. This system builds a false sense of security, in a use case built entirely on trust.
If people trust the system, and government, they use it.
If they don't, they don't.
And little of that has anything to do with the app itself.
If people trust the system, and government, they use it.
If they don't, they don't.
And little of that has anything to do with the app itself.
This includes problem scenarios like people:
a) are entirely reliant on the app, only getting tested if notified.
b) get notified, don't get sick, get tired of self-isolating, then ignore the app moving forward.
c) don't get notified, get sick & stop using the app entirely
a) are entirely reliant on the app, only getting tested if notified.
b) get notified, don't get sick, get tired of self-isolating, then ignore the app moving forward.
c) don't get notified, get sick & stop using the app entirely
4. Canada’s digital divide and cell phone adoption rates mean that this app does absolutely nothing to help the most vulnerable.
Last data indicated that Canada's cell phone penetration rate is only 85%. Which means at least 15% of the country can't even use these systems.
Last data indicated that Canada's cell phone penetration rate is only 85%. Which means at least 15% of the country can't even use these systems.
That makes the app itself less prevalent, and therefore less effective overall.
But more problematically, perpetuates the digital divide when it is already more prevalent, and damaging, than ever.
(Side thread: When will @MaryamMonsef & @navdeepsbains finally address this??)
But more problematically, perpetuates the digital divide when it is already more prevalent, and damaging, than ever.
(Side thread: When will @MaryamMonsef & @navdeepsbains finally address this??)
5. Canada's privacy laws are not strong enough.
The Covid Shield privacy policy leaves me with some questions.
But no matter what it says, it fundamentally does not (and cannot) address the enormous underlying gaps in Canada's privacy laws. We need change.
The Covid Shield privacy policy leaves me with some questions.
But no matter what it says, it fundamentally does not (and cannot) address the enormous underlying gaps in Canada's privacy laws. We need change.
Until we have solid privacy laws in Canada, no privacy policy or assurances from government are ever going to hold much weight.
The government can't restore trust, just by saying "trust us."
We don't have accountability.
We need enforcement powers.
The government can't restore trust, just by saying "trust us."
We don't have accountability.
We need enforcement powers.
@OpenMediaOrg @bccla @cancivlib @cippic @bcfipa put together privacy principles to guide these conversations.
And these have been largely respected here.
openmedia.org/sites/openmedi…
And these have been largely respected here.
openmedia.org/sites/openmedi…
It is great to see that IF this is going to go ahead, despite being fairly ineffective, it is taking a more privacy-focused view than we have seen in other regions.
But suffice to say, technology is not going to be the silver bullet here.
But suffice to say, technology is not going to be the silver bullet here.
Great thread on more of the risks of contact tracing, and discrimination, from @caparsons here:
CORRECTION: I accidentally listed CCLA, instead of the great work of @ICLMG.
The result of typing too fast, on a long day 🤦♀️
The result of typing too fast, on a long day 🤦♀️
