Government should be careful in using cellphone data to track COVID-19, advocates say

‘In normal times, most Canadians would respond to the collection and use of sensitive health and location information with a hard no. But these are not normal times,’ says professor Michael Geist.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured speaking to the media on March 23, 2020, outside of Rideau Cottage, says he wouldn’t rule out using location data from Canadians’ phones to trace the path of the novel coronavirus. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

News

BY ANJA KARADEGLIJA

March 30, 2020

Privacy experts and the Conservatives are warning the federal government that if it follows the lead of other countries and begins using cellphone location data to track the spread of COVID-19, it should do so under strict limits and safeguards for Canadians’ privacy. Prime Minister Justin Trudea...

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