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COVID-19: Brussels wants Google to respect privacy rules in tracking applications

After Google and Apple announced a partnership to help combat COVID-19 through the development of tracking applications, the European Commission asked the Mountain View giant to respect community values ​​and privacy rules.


The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, declared that the applications that are being created can be useful to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, however, it is essential that its development and interoperability respects the European privacy rules. Thierry Breton's statements come after a videoconference meeting with Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, advances Lusa.

At a time when applications for tracking anonymised personal data are emerging in several EU countries, the European Commission has argued that the use of geolocation data to try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic goes against community rules. In Portugal, both Prime Minister Antnio Costa and President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa affirm that they will not choose to use geolocation, since the measure is unconstitutional.

Just this week, Brussels released a roadmap with a common approach for Member States, reinforcing the importance of applications respecting users' privacy. The document clarifies that applications created to help combat COVID-19 should be disabled as soon as the pandemic period ends and all collected data is deleted.

The applications must be of voluntary use and based on the consent of the Europeans, respecting the General Data Protection Regulation, in force since 2018. "When users use the tracking apps they must continue to control their data", the document states.

It should be remembered that Google and Apple have already clarified that the applications that will track users will not be imposed by governments on citizens, the same principle being applied to state entities. The API access for creating apps will be restricted to recognized public health institutions. The objective is, through the use of Bluetooth technology, "to help governments and health agencies to reduce the spread of the virus", with privacy and security of the user being essential elements, guarantee the companies.

The European Commissioner for the Internal Market also met with Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube. Under the table was a discussion about the necessary measures to prevent online congestion, in reference to the commitments made by the digital video platform to lower the quality of transmission in the EU at a time of greatest demand due to social isolation.