-----
This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.
I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.
Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! Its pretty sad!
Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.
-----
Twitter deems Australia's account takeover warrant as antithetical to democratic law
Raises concerns with the new warrant, which would give two of Australia's law enforcement bodies access to data regardless of the location of the server.
By Asha Barbaschow | February 16, 2021 -- 00:18 GMT (11:18 AEDT) | Topic: Security
Twitter has labelled one of the three proposed new computer warrants handing the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) new powers for data access as antithetical to democratic law.
Twitter's remarks were made as part of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) review into the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020, which, if passed, would hand three new warrants for dealing with online crime to the two law enforcement bodies.
The social media giant focused on the Account Takeover Warrant that would allow the agencies to take control of an account for the purposes of locking a person out of the account.
"As currently written, the Account Takeover Warrant would be divorced from standard due process requirements. It would be antithetical to core legal principles enshrined in democratic law and procedural fairness," it wrote in a submission [PDF] to the PJCIS.
-----
Australia's first Covid vaccinations of elderly and disabled unlikely to be from own GP
Phase 1b vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine will be possible from March but only from ‘a handful’ of GP practices
Francine CrimminsSat 20 Feb 2021 06.00 AEDT
Elderly Australians and those with a disability are expected to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine from as early as next month, but it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to get it from their local doctor.
On Thursday Dr Lucas de Toca, acting first assistant secretary to the Covid-19 Primary Care Response at the Department of Health, confirmed that initially only “a handful” of Australian general practices would be able to offer their patients the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“Unfortunately, we cannot go to every GP practice in the country at the same time, it’s just logistically unfeasible, and we don’t have enough doses for it,” he said at a webinar aimed at Australian GPs.
Phase 1b of the national Covid-19 vaccine rollout, to begin next month, will target adults aged 70 years or over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 55 years, healthcare workers and adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability.
-----
https://medicalrepublic.com.au/healthcares-four-horsemen-and-the-great-digital-bait-and-switch/40621
19 February 2021
Healthcare’s ‘four horsemen’ and the great digital bait and switch
“The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.” – William James
Google said it wouldn’t be evil, and we believed it, for a while. Then, eventually, Google didn’t even believe it, and in 2018 removed the phrasing from its code of conduct.
In the meantime it practised a global data bait and switch on millions of small businesses.
One day it gave a business huge search visibility (and profitability) so it could capture its data and that of its customers, the next it changed its search algorithm, and destroyed those businesses and often many lives with it.
But we all moved on. Digital transformation progress apparently.
Facebook said that it just wanted to connect the world in one big happy community for the
-----
https://www.racp.edu.au/expressions-of-interest/adha-racp-digital-health-scholarship
Apply for a ADHA/RACP Digital Health Scholarship
Date published: Feb 19, 2021, 09:30 AM ADHA Propaganda
Summary
In partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, we're offering 10 x $4000 scholarships to RACP members using My Health Record and electronic prescribing in the healthcare environment.
Description
As a leading professional medical college in Australasia, the RACP provides accredited specialist training to doctors who have completed their medical degree, and assesses overseas trained physicians who wish to practice in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
We also play a strong advocate role for healthcare policies and practices that promotes the interests of medical professionals, patients and communities (locally and abroad).
Prize
On offer are 10 x $4000 scholarships for eligible Fellows and trainees who are familiar with or practicing the use of My Health Record and electronic prescribing in the healthcare environment.
Successful applicants will be asked to document up to 3 case studies or workflow and integration examples in the use of My Health Record and/or electronic prescribing from their own perspective. A reporting template to aid examples will be provided and should not exceed 500 words in length.
Scholarship applications will be evaluated and award by the ADHA and RACP selection panel.
These scholarships aim to represent a variety of clinical disciplines across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.
Successful applicants will be notified Friday 26 March 2021.
-----
It’s time to unfriend Facebook when it resorts to starving us of news
Former journalist, public campaigner and director of the Centre for Responsible Technology.
February 18, 2021 — 11.07am
For the 30 per cent of Australians who rely on Facebook as their primary source of news, they will have to find it elsewhere or live a fact-free life following the Big Tech behemoth’s decision on Thursday to purge journalism from its site.
Overnight, Facebook has removed access to its users from any site that smells like news: not only local major mastheads such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, but also specialist sites like The Conversation and global leaders such as The New York Times.
It also seems Fire and Rescue NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology, MS Research Australia, Doctors without Borders and state health departments are among many placed on the blacklist, showing the scope of the Mark Zuckerberg edict from Silicon Valley.
This is an arrogant and reckless move that will be dangerous for all Australians who are relying on an evidence-based response to a global pandemic, but also self-destructive to Facebook. While Facebook argues it does not make much money from news in its network, it is wilfully turning a blind eye to its value. News provides the facts and evidence to anchor what it claims is a ubiquitous digital experience.
-----
Why Google is finally striking meaningful Australian news deals
Max Mason Senior reporter
Feb 17, 2021 – 11.53am
Australia may end up being Google’s most expensive per-capita market, with north of $100 million per year being paid to local media businesses when all its news deals are done.
But Google’s rush and apparent success in closing the deals to pay for news content is a win for the search giant. Seven and now Nine, the country’s largest Australian-owned media company and publisher of The Australian Financial Review, have both signed letters of intent for commercial deals with Google.
This is because it is striking those deals outside of the upcoming code of conduct legislation, which has an element of unpredictability in how much Google would be forced to pay Australian news media due to the inclusion of the value of journalism to their core search product.
Private commercial deals, struck behind closed doors, attributing payments to different areas, with non-disclosure agreements tying up any sharing of the details mean Google can, for at least partly, stop the uniformity of deals that would have been forced under arbitration spreading to much larger markets such as the US and in Europe.
-----
Facebook restricts news viewing, sharing in Australia
Timothy Moore, John Kehoe, Max Mason and Miranda Ward
Updated Feb 18, 2021 – 6.19am, first published at 6.16am
Facebook has restricted publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing Australian and international news content, in a move that will send shockwaves through the local media industry.
Facebook’s Australian boss William Easton said Australia’s proposed new media bargaining code, which may become law as soon as next week, “fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content.
“It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”
Responding to the decision this morning, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said Facebook’s move removed “authoritative” news sources from its platform at a time when the credibility of information on its platform was being questioned.
-----
Facebook sacrifices Australian truth for global dollars
The price of avoiding setting an expensive global precedent is Facebook leaving its Australian users impotent in the face of dangerous fake news.
Paul SmithTechnology editor
Feb 18, 2021 – 9.46am
After years of pretending to recognise the importance of news and its role in the facilitation of community debates and events, Facebook has pulled the pin in Australia with the message that its bottom line is much more important.
The price of avoiding setting an expensive global precedent by paying fair value for the news shared on its platform, is Facebook leaving its Australian users impotent in the face of dangerous fake news.
As Australia prepares to launch the most important vaccination program of our life times, the anti-vaxxers that we’ve all seen peddling misinformation on Facebook will now go unchallenged by any news articles featuring authoritative local voices.
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/defence-considers-ethical-checklist-for-ai-561176
Defence considers ethical checklist for AI
By Justin Hendry on Feb 18, 2021 6:50AM
To de-risk projects.
Artificial intelligence projects at the Department of Defence could soon be subject to a checklist of ethical considerations to de-risk systems and keep machine-based decisions accountable.
The checklist, which is currently under internal review by Defence, is one of three tools aimed at ethically de-risking projects to emerge from a workshop on the ethics of AI for defence.
Other tools include an ethical AI risk matrix to describe risks and proposed treatments, as well as a legal, ethical and assurance program plan for contractors to complete when involved in projects.
In a report [pdf] released this week, the workshop said Defence’s development of AI systems going forward would be best supported by “an effective and practical methodology”.
-----
The COVID vaccine is here. Who will be able to see if you've had it?
By Rick Sarre and Sarah Moulds
17 February, 2021
Australia's long-awaited COVID vaccine rollout is scheduled to begin on Monday.
New laws have just been passed mandating the recording of COVID-19 vaccine information on the Australian Immunisation Register. The changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 will mean vaccination providers, such as GP clinics, will need to report to the Government who was given the COVID-19 vaccine, both within and outside of Australia.
The act introduces penalties for providers who don't comply with requests for information. Before these changes were made, the Australian Immunisation Register, which records inoculations (such as for seasonal influenza) under school-based programs and those given privately, was maintained on a voluntary basis.
Now vaccine providers will have no choice but to add personal information to the register about people's vaccination status. This information can be accessed by authorised government officials for health and other purposes.
-----
Angela Ryan: advocating the nursing voice
By
Jane Allman
Wednesday, 17 February, 2021
Nurses are celebrated across the world — revered and credited for their dedication, stamina, resilience and compassion towards all who come into their care. Yet, historically, nurses have not had a place at the decision-making table when it comes to health policies and planning.
The Australian Digital Health Agency’s (ADHA) Chief Clinical Information Officer, Angela Ryan, is passionate about the leadership capabilities of women in health care. She wants to see nurses at the centre of the decision-making table, informing policies and making important decisions.
With more than 30 years’ experience in hospitals and public sector organisations, including more than 14 years’ experience as a registered nurse, Angela is a founding Fellow and Vice Chair of the recently established Australasian Institute of Digital Health, and President of the (former) Australasian College of Health Informatics (ACHI). In 2020, Angela presided over the merger of the ACHI and the Health Informatics Society of Australia into the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
“It’s been a bit of a journey to position nurses front and centre at the decision-making table,” Angela said.
-----
https://www.itwire.com/security/data-breaches-lead-to-loss-of-trust-%E2%80%93-and-business.html
Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:01
Data breaches lead to loss of trust – and business
Identity provider Okta's research shows a data breach could dislodge nearly half of a company's customer base.
Okta's latest Digital Trust Index reports that 49% of Australian respondents say they would permanently stop using a company's services following a data breach.
And 14% say they don't trust any digital channel to safely handle their data.
COVID-19 seems to have had an impact on people's opinions and behaviour, as 57% of Australian respondents 57% say they are more cautious about sharing personal information online now than they were before the pandemic.
-----
Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:58
Govt offers more sweeteners to Google, Facebook over media code
More Australian media deals with Google's News Showcase appear to be in the offing, aided by some government sweeteners, with a number of news publishers reported to be in discussions with the online advertising giant set to finalise agreements before the Australian Parliament passes the news media code into law.
The Australian claims its owner, News Corporation Australia, Nine Entertainment, the ABC, SBS and Guardian Australia are all in talks with Google, with the latter saying it was in talks with "publishers large and small".
The Federal Government has been backing these deals, and offered Google and Facebook inducements in the form of so-called "technical amendments" in the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code that it claims "will enhance the way it operates and strengthen its ability to foster more sustainable public interest journalism in Australia".
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg — credited with having played a central role in the deal Google cut with free-to-air TV operator Seven News Media on Monday — and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said news of the deals was encouraging.
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/twitter-worried-by-secret-account-takeover-data-access-powers-561127
Twitter worried by 'secret' account takeover, data access powers
By Justin Hendry on Feb 16, 2021 3:11PM
Urges govt to amend proposed laws.
Twitter has criticised laws that would give federal authorities the power to take control of a person's online accounts in secret, accusing the government of failing to properly consider the obligations of service providers.
The social media giant made the remarks in its submission to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security review of the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identity and Disrupt) Bill.
If passed, the bill would allow the Australian Federal Police to take control of a person’s online account to gather evidence about serious offences, as well as to add, copy, delete or alter material.
The submission [pdf], published on Tuesday, calls on the government to “amend the bill to reflect practices that are consistent with established norms of privacy, free expression and [the] rule of law”.
-----
Understanding compliance requirements for accessing My Health Record – practical tips for Practice Managers
ADHA Propaganda
These one-hour sessions will equip Practice Managers and administrative staff with a sound knowledge of how to implement and maintain policies and procedures to govern access to the My Health Record within their organisation.
These demonstrations will be run multiple times each week and at varying times throughout the day.
Upon completion participants will be able to:
o Understand the legislative framework for accessing My Health Record
o Create and maintain security and access policies for My Health Record
o Manage My Health Record user accounts and training registers
o Understand the importance of Health Identifiers and correct system configuration
o Designate roles and responsibilities for practice staff engaging with My Health Record
o Understand when and how to access information contained within a consumer’s My Health Record
This education is CPD accredited by AAPM.
Thu 18 Feb
When
12:00pm - 1:00pm,
Thursday 18th February 2021
-----
https://www.pharmacytimes.com.au/this-pathological-life-data-myhealthrecord-data-deep-dive/
This Pathological Life – Data MyHealthRecord | Data Deep Dive
By Pharmacy Times ADHA Propaganda
February 16, 2021
Health records are arguably the single most important and personal collection of data anyone can have. With records containing doctor visits, consultation notes, pathology results, radiology reports, medications, allergies, etc., it is hard to overstate its significance.
In fact, these records can save lives.
The Australian Government has implemented an opt-out arrangement for MyHealthRecord and as such, there has been a rise in the number of records available. However, this venture has not been without its stumbles, detractors, and challenges.
We discuss medical records with Dr Chris Moy, who has been a national leader in developing and promoting My Health Record, the electronic ‘filing system’ of Australians’ individual health histories.
Available via OMNY Studio on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts with Podcast Host Steve Davis and our Dr Travis Brown Resident General Pathologist. This Pathological Life is produced by Clinpath Pathology in South Australia.
-----
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 12:14
DTA's digital ID program needs to be redone from scratch: researchers
The Digital Transformation Agency's digital ID program has been described as insecure and unfit for purpose by security researchers who last year found vulnerabilities in the government's COVIDSafe app.
Dr Vanessa Teague of Thinking Cybersecurity and independent researcher Ben Frengley said in a submission to the DTA that neither the trusted digital identity framework's high-level design, nor its implementation by the ATO (myGovID) met their intended security goals.
"The myGovID system is subject to an easily-implemented code proxying attack, which allows a malicious website to proxy a person's myGovID login and re-use their authentication to log in to the victim's account on any website of their choice," they wrote.
"Although detectable by extremely diligent users, the attack is likely to go unnoticed by most victims."
-----
https://www.murrayphn.org.au/new-digital-health-specialist-toolkit/
Digital Health Specialist Toolkit
ADHA
Propaganda
A new resource is now available to assist private specialist practices to better understand and adopt digital health technologies which may support improved decision making and continuity of care.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has co-developed the Digital Health Specialist Toolkit with input and testing from specialists and practice staff, and in support of the Digital Health Specialist Toolkit Steering Group with members representing a number of peak organisations.
The toolkit contains interviews, guides, learning modules, demonstrations videos and much more.
CPD-accredited eLearning modules provide an introduction and overview of digital health technologies, electronic prescribing, My Health Record and telehealth, including applications, proven benefits and ethical considerations.
Once you’ve used the resources, and to support continuous improvement, the Agency would appreciate you clicking on the ‘Provide feedback’ button located within the toolkit.
Have questions? Contact the Australian Digital Health Agency at digitalhealth.gov.au/contact-us
-----
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=231e25f1-46fb-411c-89a4-fec092cf4bca
Regulatory changes for software based medical devices
Australia February 11 2021
Regulatory changes for software based medical devices will commence on 25 February 2021. With telehealth technologies, wearable devices and various health and wellbeing apps thriving, software developers and technology device manufacturers should be asking the question: is my product a medical device?
Software now plays a crucial role in most industries and sectors across the developed world. Digital platforms are critical to the performance, productivity and reach of most businesses. The healthcare industry is no exception. Software is changing how clinicians practice medicine, how individuals manage their own health, and how patients interact with their healthcare providers.
Regulatory changes targeted at software based medical devices, including software which can be classified as a medical device in its own right ('SaMD'), will take effect on 25 February 2021. The regulatory changes follow an extensive consultation and revision process, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article provides a brief summary of what you need to know about the incoming changes:
- What is software as a medical device?
- Why are regulatory changes being made?
- What are the changes and which software is affected?
- How long do you have to comply?
-----
https://apo.org.au/node/310908
Factsheet: who is sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications?
8 Feb 2021
Publisher Netsafe
Resources Factsheet: who is sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications? 891.17 KB
Description
This factsheet presents findings from a quantitative study looking at adults’ experiences of sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications in New Zealand.
Typically research into harmful digital communications focuses on the experiences of those on the receiving end – the victims. However, to better address the distress and harm caused, information is needed about the people sending and sharing potentially harmful messages and posts. In this study, adult New Zealanders were asked whether they had sent potentially harmful digital communications in the previous year and if so, how often they had done this, who they were sent to, the channel(s) they used, and the reason for doing this.
Key findings:
- Around 1 in 10 adult New Zealanders had sent or shared at least one potentially harmful digital communication in the previous 12 months.
- It was most common for people to say offensive things about someone, but they also engaged in a range of behaviours such as sharing someone’s intimate images without their permission or encouraging other people to send hurtful messages to someone.
- Over a quarter of senders said they did this for a joke, while around 1 in 10 wanted to influence someone’s behaviour or thoughts, scare or embarrass them, and 1 in 20 were motivated by reasons such as revenge, money and sexual pleasure.
- Nearly half of the people sent these communications were family or friends, while about 1 in 10 people were strangers.
- Around 8 in 10 of people sending potentially harmful digital communications had also received them. In contrast, only 1 in 4 of receivers said they also sent such material to others.
-----
Monday, 15 February 2021 07:24
News media code: Govt may yield to wishes of Google, Facebook
The Federal Government is likely to give Google and Facebook a major concession before it puts its news media code legislation up for a vote, with a clause that says the two companies do not have to cut deals with publishers under the law if they can convince them to sign up to their news products.
The Nine Entertainment newspapers reported on Monday that the government was looking at making this concession, with the outcome being that the two services that were to be designated for inclusion by name — Google Search and Facebook NewsFeed — would not be specified in the law.
The law, in its current form, does not include Instagram and YouTube. The Nine report said Seven News, one of the three commercial free-to-air TV channels in Australia, was expected to announced a deal with Google soon.
Google launched something called News Showcase in October, and introduced it in Australia on 5 February, a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison had a video chat with Alphabet and Google chief Sundar Pichai.
-----
https://www.itwire.com/security/is-privacy-dead.html
Is privacy dead?
Here's what the IT industry executives had to say.
Resuming our 'controversial question' series, we invited a large number of suppliers (both in Australia and in other parts of the world) to consider this statement: "Privacy is dead. Long live privacy."
Graham Sowden, Managing Director APAC, Okta opens the batting, noting that "The statement posed really captures current attitudes towards privacy in the digital age. On the one hand, many of us have accepted that participating in the online world requires some sacrifice of our privacy. On the other hand, we are also increasingly aware of the extent of that sacrifice, becoming uncomfortable with it, and pushing back."
Never one for understatement, Daniel Harding, Director - Australia Operations, MaxContact exclaims, "Privacy is a topic that has never been as hot as it is now."
Guillaume Noé, Regional Security Lead at Avanade Australia also assists to set the scene. "Privacy is relative. Most people would fit on a spectrum ranging from digital exhibitionists, such as social media influencers, to hard-core privacy conscious or off-grid citizens. Regardless of where we sit on the spectrum, we all have a right to privacy including online.
-----
https://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/programs-grants/digital-literacy/digital-health-literacy-program
Digital health literacy program
Empower your community to manage their own digital health future.
About the program
Recognising the unique role of public libraries as providers of information to communities, families and individuals, the Australian Digital Health Agency, through Australian Library and Information Association, has provided funding to State Library of Queensland to deliver digital health literacy training for public library staff and local community health organisations and groups, that will provide information and resources to support a stronger emphasis on digital health literacy in their local public library service..
The Digital Health Literacy – Empowering your community to manage their own health future one-day training program includes information that will enable library staff to support and guide library members and the wider community on how they can navigate and understand the Federal Government digital health initiatives, such as My Health Record.
Online Digital Health Literacy training program
The Digital Health Literacy training program is now available online. Details can be found on the Training Calendar.
-----
Comments more than welcome!
David.
No comments:
Post a Comment