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The Digital Network of Networks: Regulatory Risk and Policy Challenges of Vaccine Passports

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2021

Sara Helen WILFORD Open the ORCID record for Sara Helen WILFORD [Opens in a new window] ,
Neil MCBRIDE Open the ORCID record for Neil MCBRIDE [Opens in a new window] ,
Laurence BROOKS Open the ORCID record for Laurence BROOKS [Opens in a new window] ,
Damian Okaibedi EKE Open the ORCID record for Damian Okaibedi EKE [Opens in a new window] ,
Simisola AKINTOYE Open the ORCID record for Simisola AKINTOYE [Opens in a new window] ,
Adebowale OWOSENI Open the ORCID record for Adebowale OWOSENI [Opens in a new window] ,
Tonii LEACH Open the ORCID record for Tonii LEACH [Opens in a new window] ,
Catherine FLICK Open the ORCID record for Catherine FLICK [Opens in a new window] ,
Malcolm FISK Open the ORCID record for Malcolm FISK [Opens in a new window]  and
Martin STACEY Open the ORCID record for Martin STACEY [Opens in a new window]
Sara Helen WILFORD
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Neil MCBRIDE
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Laurence BROOKS
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Damian Okaibedi EKE
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Simisola AKINTOYE
Affiliation:
Centre for Law, Justice and Society, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
Adebowale OWOSENI
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Tonii LEACH
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Catherine FLICK
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Malcolm FISK
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
Martin STACEY
Affiliation:
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Gateway House, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; email: sara@dmu.ac.uk.
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Abstract

The extensive disruption to and digital transformation of travel administration across borders largely due to COVID-19 mean that digital vaccine passports are being developed to resume international travel and kick-start the global economy. Currently, a wide range of actors are using a variety of different approaches and technologies to develop such a system. This paper considers the techno-ethical issues raised by the digital nature of vaccine passports and the application of leading-edge technologies such as blockchain in developing and deploying them. We briefly analyse four of the most advanced systems – IBM’s Digital Health Passport “Common Pass,” the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass, the Linux Foundation Public Health’s COVID-19 Credentials Initiative and the Vaccination Credential Initiative (Microsoft and Oracle) – and then consider the approach being taken for the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Each of these raises a range of issues, particularly relating to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the need for standards and due diligence in the application of innovative technologies (eg blockchain) that will directly challenge policymakers when attempting to regulate within the network of networks.

Type
Symposium on COVID-19 Certificates
Information
European Journal of Risk Regulation , Volume 12 , Special Issue 2: Symposium on COVID-19 Certificates and Special Issue on the Global Governance of Alcohol , June 2021 , pp. 393 - 403
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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