Privacy, Technology and Crisis Response: Case Studies from Australia, Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong

This event seeks to compare legal perspectives on the experience of technology, privacy, and COVID-19 crisis response in Australia, Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong, which are not typically considered together. By comparatively exploring the legal frameworks for the COVIDsafe app in Australia, there is the potential to enhance international coordination in digital responses to public health crises, including issues such as:

• Digital pandemic surveillance measures and their legal frameworks: Australia’s COVIDSafe app, Mainland China’s Alipay or Wechat Health Code, Singapore’s TraceTogether, and Hong Kong StayHomeSafe app with accompanying electronic wristband;
• The tension/coordination between protecting privacy and combating COVID-19;
• Transnational movement of people/virus and lack of international cooperation of health information sharing.

Chair: Dr Aim Sinpeng, University of Sydney

Panellists:

• Professor Barbara McDonald, The University of Sydney Law School

• WONG YongQuan, Benjamin, National University of Singapore

• Albert Yuen, Osborne Clarke, Hong Kong

• Associate Professor Jeanne Huang, The University of Sydney Law School

CPD Points: 1

This event is co-hosted by the University of Sydney China Studies Centre, the Centre for Asia and Pacific Law at the Sydney Law School, and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre.