What are the contact tracing data privacy options and why should we care?

We’re progressing through Alert Level 3 and only some of us are using our preferred method to capture contact information. Many of us are not. Why? Because any system is based on trust and we will have to opt in.

Whether we use a bit of paper the counter, use the simple Covid-19 Contact Register, use a digital ‘app’ solution once it arrives, or any other iteration, the challenge for all of us remains the same - we have to ‘opt in’. Perhaps more important than the method, is how comfortable we are with the data privacy which support the possible available options.

Data privacy options:

Centralised

This is where the app in use sends all data to a central database, such as a government server. Pros: this option would definitely make it easier for authorities to contact trace ‘on demand’. Cons: authorities would have all our data, irrespective of whether immediately required. Once the government has all of our data, what else will they use it for?

Decentralised

This is where the app provides for data to be stored on the phone only. Pros: presumably better control by us as users as to who our data is shared with. Cons: would be more difficult when required ‘on demand’ by authorities to suppliment their manual contact tracing activities.

Semi-centralised

This is where contact information is retained in a trusted third party repository and is only released ‘on demand’ upon request by us as the owner of the data. Pros: private data is only released for specific contact tracing period/location ranges. Cons: has additional step in the process for the owner of the data to make a request to the trusted third party to have their specific information for a period/location released.

The Covid-19 Contact Register is a simple, no-cost, semi-centralised solution which is available now for use by both businesses who need to register contacts onto their premises and individuals who are compelled to replace their reliance on memory or run a separate manual notebook. It’s like an app without being an app. More on how this works here.

For more on the topic, see the interesting article by Andrew Chen at The Spinoff.