Ethical decision-making in data handling

GDPR in Practice: Compliance and Fines

Mamnoon Hadi

Head of Analytics & Insights at Readdle

GDPR's role in ethical decision-making

Consent is crucial: individuals must be clearly informed and agree to how their data will be used
Transparency helps build trust by clearly communicating data practices to customers
Data minimization ensures only the data necessary for a specific purpose is collected

Case study: NHS Trusts and patient data

In 2023, NHS Trusts in the UK shared anonymized patient data with Facebook (Meta) without obtaining proper consent from patients$^1$
The data shared included sensitive information about medical conditions, treatments, and health histories

The anonymization process was insufficient, allowing the data to be potentially re-identified when combined with other publicly available data
The data was used for advertising purposes, including targeted health-related ads, which raised concerns about exploitation of patient data

¹ www.theguardian.com

Case study: NHS Trusts and patient data

Despite claiming the data was anonymized, the NHS Trusts failed to meet GDPR requirements for consent and transparency
Public backlash: patients felt their privacy was violated, and trust in the healthcare system was damaged

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) launched an investigation into the data sharing practices
GDPR violations: lack of explicit consent and failure to fully anonymize data, which violates data protection laws

NHS Trusts case insights

Informed consent is crucial: the case highlights the importance of ensuring that individuals fully understand and agree to how their data will be used

Data anonymization is not foolproof: even anonymized data can be re-identified when not properly handled, which violates privacy

Transparency matters: organizations must be transparent about data usage, particularly when third parties are involved

Ethical considerations: healthcare organizations face ethical dilemmas about using sensitive data for commercial purposes and the potential exploitation of trust

NHS Trusts case insights

GDPR compliance and trust: the case demonstrates how GDPR regulations are essential in maintaining public trust in healthcare systems

The balance between innovation and privacy: organizations must navigate the tension between advancing healthcare services and protecting patient data

Data sharing with third parties: the case emphasizes the importance of understanding and controlling how patient data is shared, especially with external partners like advertising platforms

Legal and reputational risks: failing to uphold ethical data practices can result in legal consequences and significant damage to an organization's reputation

Let's practice!

GDPR in Practice: Compliance and Fines