Data Protection and Privacy in the Covid-19 Response

A Joint Statement on Data Protection and Privacy in the Covid-19 response was issued on November 18 after endorsement by the UN System Organizations.

Developed by the UN Privacy Policy Group, an inter-agency group on data privacy and data protection, the statement supports the privacy protective use of data and technology by the UN in fighting the current pandemic.

“We can only defeat Covid-19 with trust, science and solidarity. With the Joint Statement, the UN reinforces its commitment to using data and new technologies in ways that respect the right to privacy and other human rights and promote sustainable economic and social development,” said Robert Kirkpatrick, Director of UN Global Pulse and a co-chair of the UN Privacy Policy Group.

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The joint statement is based on the UN Personal Data Protection and Privacy Principles as well as the recommendations in the Secretary-General’s Data Strategy on data protection, privacy, and human rights.

The statement clarifies how the UN Principles on Data Protection and Privacy can be applied in the context of Covid-19.