Isabel Bird | Examiner & Advocate Newspaper | October 29, 2020  

Independent MP says private contact tracing information used for promotional purpose by hospitality business

The collection of personal data by private businesses for coronavirus contact tracing is giving rise to privacy concerns, with one Tasmanian independent MP calling for greater government guidance on the issue.

Under current Worksafe Tasmania COVID-19 Safety Plan guidance, businesses including restaurants and bars are advised “if possible” to collect contact details such as phone numbers at the time of bookings, and to keep these records for a minimum of 21 days.

In some states such as Queensland, the Chief Public Health officer informs businesses “must collect and keep” information, that it should be securely stored, not used for any other purpose and should be deleted after 56 days.

Tasmanian independent MP Meg Webb said she provided her details to a hospitality venue for tracing, and the next day received promotional material from that business.

“Contact tracing is a key measure to ensure that if COVID-19 cases are detected, authorities can track people effectively,” she said.

“But when a Tasmanian citizen’s personal information is provided to a venue – for example, a restaurant or bar or café – who owns it? Who can legally use it?

“What greatly concerns me is that if people start receiving regular promotional offerings to their inbox or smart phone, they may become annoyed and stop providing the correct information.”

A government spokesperson said it is Public Health’s strong guidance that hospitality venues, where people congregating for extended periods of time, take the names and details of their patrons to aid in contact tracing.

“It’s the Government’s expectation that this will be a part of a hospitality businesses’ COVID-safety plan and the vast majority of hospitality businesses are doing a good job,” they said.

“Contact tracing is an important part of keeping our community safe, and it’s important that all Tasmanians provide correct information as part of that process and that all businesses treat that information sensitively and for the purpose that it’s been provided.”

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