Part II – Digital Health Passports in Europe: Amended Proposal for a Digital Green Certificate and Eligible Testing Methods
In March 2021, the European Commission released a proposal for the creation of a “Digital Green Certificate,” which will allow EU citizens to travel easier throughout the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the EU Member States agreed on some proposed changes to the proposal, including strengthening of the … Read More
Part I – Digital Health Passports in Europe: Facilitating a Return to the “New Normal” or an Intrusion of Privacy?
With the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine and the start of easing of social distancing measures, the latest initiative being considered at a national as well as an international level is the introduction of so-called “digital health passports” or “immunity passports,” i.e., a tool to record and share the immune … Read More
HHS Issues Proposed Rule Modernizing HIPAA Privacy Rule
On December 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released a proposed rule (the Proposed Rule) that would make a number of key changes to the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Health … Read More
Mobile Technologies and COVID-19: A Primer on Privacy Considerations and Fighting the Virus with Cell Phones
Sidley associate Michael R. Roberts is the author of “Mobile Technologies and COVID-19: A Primer on Fighting the Virus with Cell Phones,” an article published in the Fall 2020 issue of Infrastructure, a quarterly publication of the American Bar Association’s Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section. The article was also … Read More
Privacy and Cybersecurity Roundtable: Monitor-Side Chat Series
These informal video chats, moderated by Sidley partner Alan Raul, are designed to help fill the COVID-19 induced privacy discussion drought. We look forward to hearing what is on the mind of key data protection and cybersecurity thought leaders from both public and private sectors. Each chat will be relatively … Read More
COVID-19 – Privacy and Cybersecurity: An Action Plan For Business
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, companies should not lose sight of the privacy, data protection and cybersecurity implications of the new and sudden digital reality. This Action Plan sets out some key issues and recommendations to consider as your business manages this rapidly developing dynamic and considers protocols to support … Read More
COVID-19 – Return to Work: European and U.S. Privacy and Employment Law Issues
The novel COVID-19 global pandemic continues to raise numerous issues for employers and consequences for employees across all industries. This situation is without precedent in modern times and is extremely dynamic with rapidly occurring new developments, guidance and issues that will impact employers. In this webinar, we consider the privacy … Read More
In Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic, Senators Propose Privacy Bill Aimed At Businesses’ Use of Consumer Data
On April 30, 2020, four Republican Senators announced plans to introduce the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act. The four Senators, John Thune (R-S.D), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), are all Members of the Commerce Committee, with Wicker the Committee’s chair.
According to the April 30 … Read More
HHS Announces Exercise of Enforcement Discretion for Entities Engaged in COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and its Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) have taken a variety of steps to relax HIPAA restrictions particularly pertinent to the COVID-19 response.
First, as covered in an earlier posting, HHS took action to … Read More
COVID-19: Walking the Line Between Worker Safety and Privacy
The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for employers. Businesses must walk the line between keeping workers safe and respecting their privacy. How do employers ensure a safe and healthy workplace? And how do they manage layoffs, furloughs and benefits in this rapidly deteriorating economic environment? Our latest episode of The … Read More