EDRi calls for fundamental rights-based responses to COVID-19

23 March 2020
by eub2 -- last modified 24 March 2020

In a recent statement released on 20 March 2020, European Digital Rights (EDRi) calls on the Member States and institutions of the European Union (EU) to ensure that, while developing public health measures to tackle COVID-19, they:

• Strictly uphold fundamental rights;
• Protect data for now and the future;
• Limit the purpose of data for COVID-19 crisis only;
• Implement exceptional measures for the duration of the crisis only;
• Condemn racism and discrimination;
• Defend freedom of expression and information;

EDRi's Head of Policy, Diego Naranjo, explains that:

"EDRi supports necessary, proportionate measures, fully in line with national and international human rights and data protection and privacy legislation, taken in order to tackle the COVID - 19 global pandemic. These measures must not, however, set a precedent for rolling back the fundamental rights obligations enshrined in European law."

EDRi recognises that Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease poses a global public health challenge of unprecedented proportions.  The use of good-quality data can support the development of evidence-based responses. However, we are witnessing a surge of emergency-related policy initiatives, some of them risking the abuse of sensitive personal data in an attempt to safeguard public health. When acting to address such a crisis, measures must comply with international human rights law and cannot lead to disproportionate and unnecessary actions. It is also vital that measures are not extended once we are no longer in a state of emergency.

"In times of crisis, our authorities and communities must show responsibility, resilience, solidarity, and offer support to healthcare systems in order to protect our lives. States' emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must be proportionate, however, and be re-evaluated at specified intervals. By doing this, states will prevent the normalisation of rights-limiting measures, scope creep, data retention or enhanced surveillance that will otherwise be harmful long after the impacts of the pandemic have been managed."

emphasises Claire Fernandez, EDRi's Executive Director

In these times of pandemic and emergency measures, EDRi expresses solidarity towards collective protection and support for our health systems. We will continue monitoring and denouncing abuses of human rights in times when people are particularly vulnerable.

European Digital Rights (EDRi) is an association of civil and human rights organisations from across Europe.

European Digital Rights (EDRi)