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#Coronavirus - Commission adopts Recommendation to support exit strategies through mobile data and apps

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Today (8 April), the Commission recommends steps and measures to develop a common EU approach for the use of mobile applications and mobile data in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Recommendation sets out a process towards the adoption with the Member States of a toolbox, focusing on two dimensions: First, a pan-European coordinated approach for the use of mobile applications for empowering citizens to take effective and more targeted social distancing measures and for warning, preventing and contact tracing. The toolbox includes specifications to ensure effectiveness of these applications from a medical and technical point of view, support for interoperability, governance mechanisms for public health authorities, and mechanisms for data sharing.

Second, a common approach for modelling and predicting the evolution of the virus through anonymized and aggregated mobile location data, building on the work initiated with mobile phone operators on 23 March 2020. This will provide insights for the development of strategies for opening up societies again.

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said: “Digital technologies, mobile applications and mobility data have enormous potential to help understand how the virus spreads and to respond effectively. With this Recommendation, we put in motion a European coordinated approach for the use of such apps and data, without compromising on our EU privacy and data protection rules, and avoiding the fragmentation of the internal market. Europe is stronger when it acts united.”

Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, added: “We all must work together now to get through this unprecedented crisis. The Commission is supporting the Member States in their efforts to fight the virus and we will continue to do so when it comes to an exit strategy and to recovery. In all this, we will continue to ensure full respect of Europeans' fundamental rights. Europe's data protection rules are the strongest in the world and they are fit also for this crisis, providing for exceptions and flexibility. We work closely with data protection authorities and will come forward with guidance on the privacy implications soon.”

You can find more information on the recommendation and the next steps in the press release.

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