Quantum surveillance and 'shared secrets'. A biometric step too far? CEPS Liberty and Security in Europe, July 2010

It is no longer sensible to regard biometrics as having neutral socio-economic, legal and political impacts. Newer generation biometrics are fluid and include behavioural and emotional data that can be combined with other data. Therefore, a range of issues needs to be reviewed in light of the increasing privatisation of ‘security’ that escapes effective, democratic parliamentary and regulatory control and oversight at national, international and EU levels, argues Juliet Lodge, Professor and co-Director of the Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence at the University of Leeds, U

The United Nation data governance: a panopticon and a catalyst for cooperation

With the rapid advancement of technology and digitalization, the collection, String, processing through machine learning and deep learning, trading of data has become widespread. However, because data privacy laws vary greatly from one jurisdiction to the next, personal information is not consistently secured. For people, corporations, and governments, this lack of harmonization creates challenges in a world that is ever more interconnected. This study looks into the viability of establishing a global data privacy body, specifically as a UN agency. By serving as the global regulatory authority for data privacy, a global data privacy organization can aid in the resolution of these issues. We examine some of these institution's possible benefits in this study, including enhanced privacy protection, safer data storage, and easier international data transfers. Additionally, it covers the obstacles that can develop when establishing an international organization and provides answers to those issues. By utilizing the expertise and resources of the United Nations, an international data privacy body can assist in making sure that data protection rules remain current with technological advancements. Additionally, it can contribute to increasing transparency and accountability in the digital economy, which is advantageous for both governments and enterprises. To further the International Data Governance, establishment of a UN agency to address data privacy, cross border data transfer and global data governance issues is speculative from history, as happened in the development of IPR as important field in International Law WIPO was established. The adoption of a brand-new, comprehensive international data privacy policy is not required to happen (at least not right away) when a global organization is established. By harnessing the knowledge and resources of the United Nations, an international data privacy agency can ensure that data protection laws keep up with technological advancements and foster trust and responsibility in the digital ecosystem. The challenges brought on by the Collection, processing, analysis and transfer of stored data in different geographical locations, gives call for Data Globalization & Data Sovereignty Debate, therefore by establishing an institution by United Nations dedicated to promoting data privacy & related issues will act as a panopticon for State & Non-State actors

Systematizing Genome Privacy Research: A Privacy-Enhancing Technologies Perspective

Rapid advances in human genomics are enabling researchers to gain a better understanding of the role of the genome in our health and well-being, stimulating hope for more effective and cost efficient healthcare. However, this also prompts a number of security and privacy concerns stemming from the distinctive characteristics of genomic data. To address them, a new research community has emerged and produced a large number of publications and initiatives. In this paper, we rely on a structured methodology to contextualize and provide a critical analysis of the current knowledge on privacy-enhancing technologies used for testing, storing, and sharing genomic data, using a representative sample of the work published in the past decade. We identify and discuss limitations, technical challenges, and issues faced by the community, focusing in particular on those that are inherently tied to the nature of the problem and are harder for the community alone to address. Finally, we report on the importance and difficulty of the identified challenges based on an online survey of genome data privacy expertsComment: To appear in the Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PoPETs), Vol. 2019, Issue

Ethics and governance in social work research in the UK

The application of formal research ethics and governance structures in social work research have lagged behind those applicable in health, although in the UK, social care has been deemed to be covered by those that were used in the NHS. Whilst this link is useful, it does not facilitate researcher involvement in the small-scale qualitative studies that feature in social work more than in health. Our exploration of the subject reveals that the dominance of the natural sciences paradigm in the social science is evident nationally, regionally and internationally. So, in this sense, the UK follows the usual paths that favour quantitative studies. In this article we explore the trajectory of governance structures in social work research in the UK to argue that social work needs its own ethics and governance structures, but that some agreement should be sought with other professions, particularly in those projects that cross professional and discipline boundaries so that social work research does not have to undergo dual processes for ethical approval. This implies a broader recognition of social work research ethics and governance structures than currently exist. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Biometrics Institute 20th Anniversary Report

The purpose of this report is to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Biometrics Institute on the 11 October 2021. More importantly, however, this report celebrates the work of the Biometrics Institute over the past twenty years, which together with the support of its members, has provided a platform for a balanced discussion promoting the responsible and ethical use of biometrics and a deeper understanding of the biometrics industry

Security, digital border technologies, and immigration admissions : challenges of and to non-discrimination, liberty and equality

Normative debates on migration control, while characterised by profound disagreement, do appear to agree that the state has at least a prima facie right to prevent the entry of security threats. While concern is sometimes raised that this ‘security exception’ can be abused, there has been little focus by normative theorists on concrete practices of security, and how we can determine what a ‘principled’ use of the security exception would be. I argue that even if states have a right to prevent migrants from entering on grounds of security, the practices required to implement this right will likely compromise core liberal democratic values in ways that have not been sufficiently appreciated. I draw on literature from Science and Technology Studies and Critical Security Studies to examine the proliferation of digital border control technologies which are increasingly dominating state security practices, and explain the challenges these technologies pose to non-discrimination, liberty and equality. I also highlight the difficulties of taking these principles as presumptive limitations on the operation of the security exception. A more sustained conversation among ethical theorists is needed to address the profound ethical challenges that the ever-increasing use of these technologies poses, particularly in pursuit of security.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Recommendations for collaborative paediatric research including biobanking in Europe: a Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) initiative

Innovative research in childhood rheumatic diseases mandates international collaborations. However, researchers struggle with significant regulatory heterogeneity; an enabling European Union (EU)-wide framework is missing. The aims of the study were to systematically review the evidence for best practice and to establish recommendations for collaborative research. The Paediatric Rheumatology European Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) project enabled a scoping review and expert discussion, which then informed the systematic literature review. Published evidence was synthesised; recommendations were drafted. An iterative review process and consultations with Ethics Committees and European experts for ethical and legal aspects of paediatric research refined the recommendations. SHARE experts and patient representatives vetted the proposed recommendations at a consensus meeting using Nominal Group Technique. Agreement of 80% was mandatory for inclusion. The systematic literature review returned 1319 records. A total of 223 full-text publications plus 22 international normative documents were reviewed; 85 publications and 16 normative documents were included. A total of 21 recommendations were established including general principles (1-3), ethics (4-7), paediatric principles (8 and 9), consent to paediatric research (10-14), paediatric databank and biobank (15 and 16), sharing of data and samples (17-19), and commercialisation and third parties (20 and 21). The refined recommendations resulted in an agreement of >80% for all recommendations. The SHARE initiative established the first recommendations for Paediatric Rheumatology collaborative research across borders in Europe. These provide strong support for an urgently needed European framework and evidence-based guidance for its implementation. Such changes will promote research in children with rheumatic diseases