Hong Kong regulator declares that the disclosure of personal data of potential COVID-19 carriers is permissible under law.
COVID-19 is having a profound impact not only on the way the world interacts socially, but also in the way it interacts in business. Businesses are choosing to protect the health and well-being of their employees by vetting the travel histories and health status of visitors, as well as tracking potential COVID-19 carriers using social media.
Hong Kong’s data protection regulator, the Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) has recently published guidance considering the implications of these activities, as described below.
The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) has published a useful 
Earlier this month, the California Attorney General released modified draft regulations further clarifying, and in some cases complicating, compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act. Key developments include narrowing the definition of “personal information,” changing the use limitations on “service providers,” and other amendments affecting how businesses must respond to data rights requests. The regulations must be final by July 1, which means the California AG may still publish another round of modifications after the public comment period closes on February 25. For more information on all key modifications, see our recent 
Following a wave of commentary from industry, the social sector, and other organisations, on 11 February 2020 the UK government set out preliminary details of a new regulatory regime to govern content posted on online platforms. The details were released in an initial response to 
What Is Business Email Compromise?
On 29 January 2020, the EU Parliament approved the UK Withdrawal Agreement after the UK Parliament’s ratification via the EU Withdrawal Act 2020 on 23 January 2020 (Withdrawal Agreement). The Withdrawal Agreement maintains the UK pre-Brexit position and clarifies that the GDPR continues to apply in the UK during the transition period (between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, or any extension agreed by UK and EU), allowing both sides to negotiate the future data protection relationship. The ICO confirmed that the GDPR will continue to apply, and that during the transition it will be “
On November 1, 2019, the majority of provisions of Russia’s internet law (RuNet Law) entered into force. Its principal purpose is to ensure the independent operation, safety, and security of the Russian segment of the internet. However, the overall effect of the RuNet Law is expected to be similar to China’s Great Firewall, a system of legal and technical measures employed by the Chinese government to monitor and restrict the use of the internet. 
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO’s) latest 
On August 22, 2019, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released a new data privacy regulation related to children, the Provisions on Cyber Protection of Personal Information of Children (儿童个人信息网络保护规定)(PCPPIC). The regulation will come into effect on October 1, 2019, and will apply within the People’s Republic of China (PRC).The PCPPIC’s stated purpose is “protecting the security of children’s personal information and promoting the healthy growth of children in the PRC.” In 29 Articles, the PCPPIC sets forth high-level requirements for the collection, storage, use, transfer, and disclosure of the personal information of children within PRC territory. 