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"Police forces across Ontario engaged in broad, illegal searches of a now-defunct COVID-19 database, two civil rights groups alleged Wednesday, claiming the use

"Police forces across Ontario engaged in broad, illegal searches of a now-defunct COVID-19 database, two civil rights groups alleged Wednesday, claiming the use of the portal violated individual privacy rights for months." My question right off the bat - what was this database, and what was it replaced with? I thought the new app wasn't accessible like that, so how was this database generated? "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." Ah, it's not any sort of database off the App, just a regular old violation of our health privacy rights like any other day.

52-6F-62 6y ago
It's not the only database like that. It's meant to be exclusively accessed in situations like a person being admitted to the ER when unconscious. There is similarly an HIV database for the same reason. Fluid transmissions happen easily in hospitals. Accidents happen. They aim to be as aware as possible so the incidental nurse tapping a vein doesn't also have to live (or die) with HIV, or in this case, catch and spread COVID-19 because of a lack of situational awareness that can't possible be gleaned by looking or sometimes even speaking to someone. The problem here was there was little to no governance around the database and clearly there needed to be more. There need to be an avenue for justice for an abuse as well. And more personally, I'd appreciate it being more even-handed. I don't believe nurses have to disclose if they have HIV presently to their workplace or patients which is troubling to me because I've had a personal scare in a situation involving something related.
- SketchySeaBeast 6y ago
  Oh yeah, it's an absolute screw-up, I just worry that a lot of people will jump to the "they have the tracking app data! See, told you you couldn't trust it!" when that's not the case at all here. It's just the regular malfeasance that people can't stop by not using the app.
  - 52-6F-62 6y ago
    Oh I hear you there. I wholeheartedly agree.

52-6F-62 6y ago

It's not the only database like that. It's meant to be exclusively accessed in situations like a person being admitted to the ER when unconscious. There is similarly an HIV database for the same reason. Fluid transmissions happen easily in hospitals. Accidents happen. They aim to be as aware as possible so the incidental nurse tapping a vein doesn't also have to live (or die) with HIV, or in this case, catch and spread COVID-19 because of a lack of situational awareness that can't possible be gleaned by looking or sometimes even speaking to someone. The problem here was there was little to no governance around the database and clearly there needed to be more. There need to be an avenue for justice for an abuse as well. And more personally, I'd appreciate it being more even-handed. I don't believe nurses have to disclose if they have HIV presently to their workplace or patients which is troubling to me because I've had a personal scare in a situation involving something related.

SketchySeaBeast 6y ago
Oh yeah, it's an absolute screw-up, I just worry that a lot of people will jump to the "they have the tracking app data! See, told you you couldn't trust it!" when that's not the case at all here. It's just the regular malfeasance that people can't stop by not using the app.
- 52-6F-62 6y ago
  Oh I hear you there. I wholeheartedly agree.