The work of the 1st part of the session of the Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) continues in Strasbourg.
MEP Mr. Kostis Efstathiou participated in a plenary debate on the ethical, cultural and educational challenges arising from the use of contact tracing applications.
Referring to the recent experience of the coronavirus pandemic and the emergency measures taken to deal with it, Mr Efstathiou noted that, without the use of new technologies, the effectiveness of the measures would have been very limited. He also noted that the pandemic had accelerated the digital transformation of several Member States, noting however that, at the same time, it had highlighted the multiple risks and discrimination that the widespread use of new digital tools entailed, particularly with regard to the protection of personal data and the right to privacy of citizens.
The use of such technologies, the Cypriot MEP stressed, should be governed by a strict legal framework, which in practice guarantees the confidentiality of personal data and the right to privacy. Parliaments must be able to exercise parliamentary control without hindrance and strengthen the competent independent authorities, so that they have the necessary tools and can intervene to better regulate this sensitive area.
(The text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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