In the corona pandemic, data protection has often given way to health protection. In the future, according to the demands of the Hessian state data protection officer Alexander Roßnagel, it should be more important again. In a sudden emergency, it was understandable that data protection only counted secondarily. “But we have to return to lawful conditions as the pandemic continues.”
Exceptions may not be a permanent solution
This applies, for example, to the use of video conference systems at universities. According to EU regulations, these must be organized in such a way that, in principle, no personal data is transmitted to the USA. Despite Corona, exceptions should not become a permanent solution, warned Roßnagel. Together with the universities and the Ministry of Science, work is currently being carried out on a long-term, data protection-compliant regulation.
Some universities already operated video conferencing systems where the data stayed in Europe or even on campus. In addition, existing systems could be readjusted. Roßnagel estimated that by the end of the coming summer semester at the latest, video conference systems will operate in compliance with data protection regulations at all universities, possibly even earlier.
“In the corona pandemic, many things are only regulated in the protective laws and regulations and are often incomplete with regard to data protection,” criticized Roßnagel. His house is mostly panting after the specifications. The new regulations often come from politics very late and would have to be implemented overnight. He would like data protection to be brought on board earlier, if possible, said the lawyer.
How should digitization be implemented in our schools? How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting events? What was achieved in the 2020/2021 school year? This is what our series of articles would like to shed light on.
(kbe)