Rushed test and trace services put consumer privacy and health at risk

Rushed test and trace services put consumer privacy and health at risk



Since its launch in late May, the UK government’s Test and Trace service has been contentious. Not only has its efficacy been thrown into question by reports it’s failing to contact thousands who may have contracted COVID-19, but the Department of Health has also been forced to admit it launched the initiative without accounting for privacy. While the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, may feel the need to get the system “up and running at incredible speed” is a justification for these failings, it’s really an admission that a rushed test and trace service is placing consumer privacy and health at risk.


Guest registers are symptomatic of broader test and trace privacy failings


The UK government’s willingness to sacrifice consumer privacy during the pandemic has been exemplified by the guest registers they have required the hospitality sector to keep to support the test and trace service.


Their motivation for having pubs and restaurants keep a record of guests’ personal data – such as their names, email addresses and phone numbers – is undeniably good; they want to protect customers’ physical health. However, if this data is handled improperly it could create significant privacy issues for establishments and the punters visiting them.


Unfortunately, the likelihood that this could happen is high. The hospitality sector had a mere two weeks notice to create and deploy their guest register systems in June. For those with experience in development and data privacy this would be an adequate length of time to prepare. However, many businesses lacked, and still lack, the requisite knowledge to develop a secure system for gathering and retaining data. As the volume of sensitive data these businesses are collecting grows ..

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