Work

Ethical perspectives in sharing digital data for public health surveillance before and shortly after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Data from digital technologies are increasingly integrated in public health research. In April of 2020, we interviewed a subset of participants (N=25) who completed a survey approximately one month earlier (just prior to the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States). Using the survey, we contacted and interviewed participants who had expressed their willingness or unwillingness to share digital data (e.g., from contact tracing apps) for use in public health. We followed a directed content analysis approach for the analysis of the interview data. Among participants who had reported being unwilling to share data, concerns about privacy, confidentiality, and the purpose of the research were cited. During the interviews, 76.9% of the participants who had previously indicated that they were unwilling to share their data, expressed willingness to share data in order to assist with COVID-19 prevention. Our results contribute to our understanding of people's perspectives on sharing personal data and of the way their perspectives can vary as a function of potential uses of their personal information (e.g., prevention of COVID-19).

Source: Ethics & Behavior

DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2021.1884079

Authors: Romina A. Romero, Sean D. Young

Institution: University of California System

Language: English

Topic: COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health