Baidu chief calls for coordinated Chinese government approach for personal data collected during pandemic
- Central and provincial governments have pushed to gather and analyse more data to contain the spread of the coronavirus during the pandemic
- To reduce the risks of data leakage and abuse, Baidu chief executive Robin Li proposes that government bodies standardise the management of such data
Government bodies should also study standards relating to the collection, storage and use of personal data under “special circumstances” and standardise the management of such data to reduce the risk of data leakage and abuse, Li wrote in his proposal, which was released to the public on Wednesday.
As they raced to contain the spread of the outbreak that started in January, China’s central and provincial governments have been gathering and analysing even more data, by extending real-name registration and facial recognition requirements to over-the-counter purchases of medicine and all forms of public transport.
Epidemic boosts China’s big data push but privacy still a concern
A delegate at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Li is also proposing to speed up efforts to build a nationwide digital infrastructure and smart transport systems using the latest technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, and to increase tax subsidies for training and continued education.
CPPCC is one of the two main political bodies of China that separately convene at the two sessions each year to discuss major laws and regulations, as well as scrutinise work reports and the national budget. The other is the National People's Congress (NPC), China’s parliament.
It said Ma’s proposals take into account “the impact caused by the [coronavirus] pandemic on the country’s livelihood and economy”, including the development of “smart hospitals”, which will take advantage of the country’s advanced digital infrastructure and help ease the burden for medical staff during a public health crisis like Covid-19.