At a personal level, 2020 is the year I started (& ended on New Year’s Eve!) binge-watching Chinese historical dramas . Now I can resonate with the (Chinese dramas) fans and the power of fandoms and social media. It is so easy to get hooked or become addicted in a ‘nice’ and/or a less ‘nice’ addictive way to anything (online or offline) which grabs one’s attention like binge-watching over 40 episodes of dramas without a care of what’s going on around you. I guess one can call this a form of escapism from reality or escape into another world or kingdom – one which gives us momentary or flickering or fleeting fun/pleasure/solitude or whatever one is seeking or desiring. In my case, I happen to love Chinese culture – the language, the colourful and intense portrayal and interweaving of stories with the dramatic background, landscapes, costumes and the amazing acting and beautiful music (e.g., the music and songs in ‘The Untamed’ are simply hauntingly beautiful).

So, my 2021 resolution is no more binge-watching of Chinese historical dramas. Instead, I’ll be exploring the world of online games or gaming. Mmm… is gaming (like gambling?) ‘binge-playing’ of games? This new exploratory into online games started in late November 2020 when I started a secondment role with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The secondment title is ‘Engagement Specialist’ for the #Age Appropriate Design Code (The #Children’s Code). More information at Children’s-Code-hub.

In ushering in 2021, I can only hope that the significant life-changing 2020 events e.g. Covid-19 lockdown, binge-watching, Brexit, privacy and contact tracing, will be kinder or less significant in 2021 to me and others.

Happy binge-playing!

Just to let you know that the second edition of the Anonymisation Decision-making Framework has now been published.

https://ukanon.net/framework/

Many thanks to Prof Mark Eliot for sharing the book and the various companion documents.

I tweeted the news on 24th July 2020:

From #Schrems & https://t.co/c7eI7oxpgT – Next Steps for EU companies & FAQs https://t.co/GPsRPP03L7

— cher devey (@datachainrisk) July 24, 2020

The CJEU’s judgment and the press release have been summarised by various folks. The essence of #SchremsII – extracted from Center for Democracy & Technology:

No doubt international data transfer or international trade will continue to flow (and flourish) even without Privacy Shield as there is still GDPR Article 49. Data transfer has to be read in terms of adequacy, derogation, surveillance and also trade politics.

For now, our inalienable rights shine until another round of drama in the courts.

One practical application of my privacy harm model is for making sense of “high risk to individuals’ interests” in carrying out data protection impact assessments or privacy impact assessments.

For anyone interested in what I did for my PhD, here’s a bit about it.
Enjoy!

Accountability & ethics are both interesting and topical issues not only in a digital ecosystem but beyond the digital sphere. A good example is the current lockdown situation whereby we are all dependent on getting connected online or digitally connected because we have to obey or adopt social distancing (outside the digital sphere). Have ethics or ethical norms changed because we’re or have experienced ‘social distancing’ (more time alone or with family) and are also spending more time online to connect with people? I think researchers need to ask new questions on the interplay between the digital and non-digital or ‘real world’ sphere and where accountability and/or ethics matters or not. Do we have accountability or can impose accountability (via laws?) when we have runaway ethics? Just a random question!

Extracted from the conclusion:

Crippled by a lack of resources, tight budgets, and administrative hurdles, Data
Protection Authorities have not yet been able to enforce the law adequately. Worse,
some public authorities have misused the GDPR to undermine other fundamental rights.
While the GDPR in itself is not to blame for these failures, fingers are sure to be pointed
at the law if urgent actions are not taken. We hope that the recommendations put
forward in this report will help address the situation.

I wonder even with more resources available, would the DPAs be better able to enforce the law adequately?
I suspect not. More resources will not guarantee better outcomes.

Governments should ensure the application of the GDPR and the
protect the right to data protection in their COVID-19 response,
particularly in the areas concerning the collection and use of health
data, the use of tracking and geolocation, and the conclusion of
public-private partnerships for the development and deployment of
contact-tracing apps.

Balancing the rights – the rights and freedoms of individuals & public interests – for the Covid-19 response is probably where we will see or have seen the workings or misuses of GDPR.

So, it’s just me and my mobile on my ‘normal’ walk. Do I want to be traced or tracked or monitored by my mobile or by ‘someone’ capturing my location or interaction with a tree or a passer-by or another nearby walker? Isn’t this an intrusion into my private life or space or sacred space? Sacred because I just want to be left in peace or to be left alone (privacy?) Does the ‘new norm’i.e. when the lockdown is removed, and we regain a sense of normality also means we regain our sense of freedom and privacy? Do I value my privacy above all else or above what the public or others demand? I value my privacy, but I know I don’t have absolute rights.

In the current epidemic the public interests or public health or save our NHS take centre stage above an individual’s right to privacy. The NHS is the hero in saving lives and also other essential services which we ‘normally’ take for granted. What I find upsetting is the uptake and/or the urgency in using technology (tech) for tracing or locating people or contact tracing. Yes, we all want to be back to ‘normal’ and get rid of the virus. Which is more dreadful – the virus or being under surveillance or tracked (without the opt-out)? The virus can kill – if your immune system is weak & you have no access to the needed medical aids and care. With the contact tracing or any tech that collects data about our ‘normal’ life (privacy?), it won’t kill anyone outright, right? It can save lives, so we’re told.

As we know we’re relying on tech to save lives like the use of tech in hospitals etc. Also, like in normal times, we use tech daily and now we rely on tech more than ever in lockdown. More than ever, we also need to check that we’re using tech that does not go beyond one’s safety net (our privacy) or intrude into one’s normal life. This is what privacy is all about, isn’t it? A crisis isn’t ‘normal’. Privacy is sacred in normal times and more so during a crisis.

Simple #Selfisolationhelp self-help steps #immuneSupport #immuneSystem #StayHomeSaveLives #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe #JinShinJyutsuhttps://t.co/TZzSEwbCMN

— Jin Shin Jyutsu London, UK (@craftingqi) March 27, 2020

It is ‘crazy time’, ‘panic food stocking/hoarding’, ‘deserted café/streets’, ‘unprecedented time’, ‘tumultuous time’ and government calling for lockdown or shutdown and/or social distancing.

The WHO declared last Wednesday 11th March 2020 that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

Even the ICO and EDPB have announced news. So now we have 3 categories of DPAs approach to the pandemic. @EUstaran (11:47 AM · Mar 17, 2020) tweeted the DPAs’ positions as follows: Restrictive: BE, FR, LU, NL Neutral: DE, NO, SK, SI, SE Permissive: DK, IE, IT, PL, RU, ES, UK

Whatever we call it – epidemic or pandemic – the one thing that matters to me is that I can stay healthy and have access to my basic needs (air, food, water, electricity & WiFi) and my family and friends.

Scary time for people who feel that they are vulnerable or categorised as vulnerable due to their health or medical conditions. No doubt, everyone wants everyone to be safe.

My student tenant already packed up and left for home (China) and now my niece is packing up to leave for home (Malaysia) too. Her university has shutdown.

This is my 1st experience of what a virus can do to a person, to a country and also at local community. Good to hear/read that neighbourly folks at nextdoor.co.uk are reaching out and offering help for the less fortunate or those affected by the epidemic.

Let us not forget that there are many people who can’t self-isolate or social avoidance or not go to work as they are in the ‘front-line’ and/or are providing essential or basic services that I and so many others rely on in times of crisis or emergencies.

Although the current situation feels like a dawn of a new era, whatever that may be, humanity will find a way to survive. Hope for a new dawn!

With hope…

Simple self-help steps to do daily, check out these:
For main central flows
For immune system, watch Video and follow the simple steps
For those interested in JinShinJyutsu, welcome to join a Facebook community