4 ms·

I still don't understand what they did exactly that is so wrong? Government was given health data, government entity accessed data for policing (we assume), and

by zo1 6y ago

I still don't understand what they did exactly that is so wrong? Government was given health data, government entity accessed data for policing (we assume), and what? That police had access to someone's health record? How is that ground-shaking level stuff? Did the police stalk someone because of this? Did the data get abused for personal/fraudulent reasons? Did someone get fired because a cop found out his child's preschool teacher is actually a trans person and they object to that? Did they use this to solve crimes? Find covid-spreading patterns and individuals?

mdorazio 6y ago
There are multiple problems with your comment. 1) Whether you personally think it was "wrong" or not is irrelevant here - it was explicitly illegal and they knew it. 2) Part of the problem here is that we don't know what they did with the data - maybe they only used it to decide how to handle emergency calls, but maybe they used it to ignore calls or spread privacy-violating rumors that lost people friends & jobs. 3) This is absolutely a case where you should be worried that overreach starts small and then becomes a big problem. Even if you don't think this particular instance was bad, it's indicative of what would happen if they were given access to potentially more harmful datasets.
- s1artibartfast 6y ago
  > Whether you personally think it was "wrong" or not is irrelevant here - it was explicitly illegal and they knew it. I don't Think this is an accurate take. The article states: >In early April, the Ontario government passed an emergency order that allowed police to obtain the names, addresses and dates of birth of Ontarians who had tested positive for COVID-19. The portal was aimed at helping to protect first responders. Law was passed specifically allowing police to use the data, and they were told they could use it. A portal was designed so that they could access the data. The Civil Liberties Association now alleges that this law violates the rights of citizens. The problem is much deeper than rouge cops with no respect for the law. It is about laws and lawmakers with no respect for personal privacy. Furthermore, it hasn't even been decided if the cops did anything against canadian law at all!

by zo1 6y ago

mdorazio 6y ago

There are multiple problems with your comment. 1) Whether you personally think it was "wrong" or not is irrelevant here - it was explicitly illegal and they knew it. 2) Part of the problem here is that we don't know what they did with the data - maybe they only used it to decide how to handle emergency calls, but maybe they used it to ignore calls or spread privacy-violating rumors that lost people friends & jobs. 3) This is absolutely a case where you should be worried that overreach starts small and then becomes a big problem. Even if you don't think this particular instance was bad, it's indicative of what would happen if they were given access to potentially more harmful datasets.

s1artibartfast 6y ago
> Whether you personally think it was "wrong" or not is irrelevant here - it was explicitly illegal and they knew it. I don't Think this is an accurate take. The article states: >In early April, the Ontario government passed an emergency order that allowed police to obtain the names, addresses and dates of birth of Ontarians who had tested positive for COVID-19. The portal was aimed at helping to protect first responders. Law was passed specifically allowing police to use the data, and they were told they could use it. A portal was designed so that they could access the data. The Civil Liberties Association now alleges that this law violates the rights of citizens. The problem is much deeper than rouge cops with no respect for the law. It is about laws and lawmakers with no respect for personal privacy. Furthermore, it hasn't even been decided if the cops did anything against canadian law at all!