Question Period Note: COVID Alert app and Privacy

• What is the Government doing to ensure COVID Alert will protect Canadians’ privacy?

• The government is committed to protecting the privacy of Canadians, while taking appropriate steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

• COVID Alert has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure it is privacy protective.

• The Privacy Commissioner of Canada indicated that he supports the use of COVID Alert.

• As provinces onboard and functionalities are added, the privacy analysis is adjusted and updated. We also ensure that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is continually updated and briefed on any changes being considered.

COVID Alert Exposure Notification App

• In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while also gradually easing restrictions on individuals and allowing the economy to being to re-open, the Government of Canada committed to launching a single national COVID-19 exposure notification app (COVID Alert).

• Health Canada, with support from the Canadian Digital Services and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, developed the COVID Alert exposure notification app as a minimally intrusive approach intended to be used in combination with and in support of current public health measures.

• COVID Alert serves to notify app users if they have been near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and is also using the app, and to encourage them to take appropriate steps and adjust their behaviour to avoid putting others at risk.

• The COVID Alert app has undergone a privacy assessment in line with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s (OPC) Framework for the Government of Canada to Assess Privacy-Impactful Initiatives in Response to COVID-19. The OPC was consulted on the app and published their review of the app on their website.

• Ontario began providing the one-time keys on July 31, 2020 followed by Newfoundland and Labrador on September 3, 2020, New-Brunswick and Saskatchewan on September 18, 2020, Manitoba on October 1, 2020, Quebec on October 5, 2020, Prince Edward Island on October 8, 2020, Nova Scotia on October 15, 2020, and the Northwest Territories on November 26, 2020. Health Canada is working with the other provinces and territories to have COVID Alert implemented in all jurisdictions.

SYNOPSIS

• In response to the global pandemic, the Government of Canada turned to digital solutions to help reduce the spread of the virus. Specifically, an exposure notification app (COVID Alert) was developed to help address the pandemic in Canada
IF PRESSED…

• The COVID Alert app does not disclose the identity of users, nor is location data or personally identifiable information collected.

• Strong governance and oversight is being put in place for this collaborative initiative, which will help to promptly address any issues as they arise to ensure broad adoption of the app by Canadians.
IF PRESSED ON ANDROID LOCATION TRACKING…

• Android 11 no longer requires the location setting to be on for Bluetooth technology to work.

• To use Bluetooth scanning, Android phones 6 to 10 need the Location setting on for all apps. However, COVID Alert has no way of knowing where you are, and does not use location tracking.