Digital contact tracing and exposure notification: ethical guidance for trustworthy pandemic management

Robert Ranisch,Niels Nijsingh,Georg Marckmann,Anne Van Bergen,Verina Wild,Christian Munthe,Orsolya Friedrich,Angela Ballantyne,Tereza Hendl,Alena Buyx

doi:10.1007/s10676-020-09566-8

Abstract

There is growing interest in contact tracing apps (CT apps) for pandemic management. It is crucial to consider ethical requirements before, while, and after implementing such apps. In this paper, we illustrate the complexity and multiplicity of the ethical considerations by presenting an ethical framework for a responsible design and implementation of CT apps. Using this framework as a starting point, we briefly highlight the interconnection of social and political contexts, available measures of pandemic management, and a multi-layer assessment of CT apps. We will discuss some trade-offs that arise from this perspective. We then suggest that public trust is of major importance for population uptake of contact tracing apps. Hasty, ill-prepared or badly communicated implementations of CT apps will likely undermine public trust, and as such, risk impeding general effectiveness.

Highlights

Digital technologies are increasingly being discussed and implemented for Covid-19 pandemic management and as tools for easing restrictive measures, such as lockdowns (Mello and Wang 2020; Ting et al 2020)
Rather than asking general questions on the moral acceptability of contact tracing apps (CT apps), the crucial question is: “What specific interventions, if any, may be justified under what conditions?” Inspired by ethical frameworks for big data in health and research, developed by the SHAPES initiative (Xafis et al 2020), and other normative frameworks for digital health technologies (Marckmann 2020) and pandemic management (Thompson et al 2006), we propose relevant substantive values and procedural values as well as corresponding questions, which should be considered in response to these requirements (Table 1)
To ensure effectiveness and user-friendliness, there should only be a limited number of CT apps or, ideally, only one platform

Summary

Introduction

Digital technologies are increasingly being discussed and implemented for Covid-19 pandemic management and as tools for easing restrictive measures, such as lockdowns (Mello and Wang 2020; Ting et al 2020). This paper focuses on ethical considerations for responsible development, design and implementation of effective and justifiable CT apps in pandemic management strategies.

Results

Conclusion