-----
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 are still
dated 6 December, 2018! How pathetic is that for transparency? Secrecy
unconstrained!
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.
-----
https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/patient-centred-virtual-and-innovative-healthcare-post-covid-19/
Patient-centred, virtual and innovative: Healthcare
post COVID-19
22
July, 2020
Virtual
healthcare in the future needs patient-centred models, equitable access,
regulatory oversight and a digitally capable workforce if we are to build on
advances made in telehealth during COVID-19.
Australian
healthcare organisations say while telehealth has been around for several
decades, a sector-wide, proactive effort is now needed to make a
transformational shift in the way we practice healthcare in the digital age.
Innovations, new health tech and telehealth models introduced during COVID-19
have let the “genie out of the bottle” for healthcare consumers with new
expectations around how healthcare could be delivered.
Australasian
Institute of Digital Health CEO Dr Louise Schaper said: “A truth of the
pandemic is that it has led to a massive increase in the use of telehealth and
virtual care. However, now is the time for us to create a new truth for health
that goes wider than telehealth and virtual care: A truth that is centred on a
transformational shift in the way we view and practice healthcare.”
“We
need to squarely emphasise patient-centred care which acknowledges and
leverages the innovation that our health sector has proven it can do.”
-----
https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/relaunched-national-survey-on-the-usability-of-electronic-health-medical-records/
Relaunched national survey on the Usability of
Electronic Health/Medical Records
The
digital health community is invited to take part in a national survey on the
Usability of Electronic Health/Medical Records.
The
survey, supported by the Institute’s UX Network, is being conducted by Griffith
University researchers and aims to capture the broad experience of clinicians
across all health disciplines.
It
is anonymous and only takes five minutes to complete. Participants should work
in a healthcare organisation and use electronic health record systems.
- The survey will take approximately 5
minutes to complete
- Participation is voluntary
- Data collected in this study will
remain anonymous
- Requirements:
- Aged 18 or over
- Reside in Australia
- Work in a healthcare organisation
and use electronic health record systems
- Lead investigator: Dr Sheree Lloyd,
Griffith University
Griffith
University Ethics Approval 2019/749
TAKE SURVEY
-----
https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/news-and-events/news/media-release-international-collaboration-on-digital-health-best-practice-supports-global-response-to-covid-19-pandemic
Media release - International collaboration on digital
health best practice supports global response to COVID-19 pandemic
23
July, 2020: Four reports – White Papers – have been published
by the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) of over 30 nations including
Australia detailing what GDHP member countries are doing to deliver digital
health services and improve patient health outcomes.
The
GDHP is currently chaired by India. Mr Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is the GDHP Secretariat Lead.
Mr
Agarwal said “Sharing digital health information is now more important than
ever as individual nations and the global community respond to the challenges
of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“These
White Papers will provide both participant and non-participant countries and
territories with guidance on the key digital health enablers that can lead in
improving the health and well-being of citizens at national and sub-national
levels through the best use of evidence-based digital technologies.”
-----
https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-tech-within-canberras-economic-and-fiscal-update/
The tech within Canberra's economic and fiscal update
Funding for
the Consumer Data Right, no comment on robo-debt, and a bit of funding for
cyber.
By Asha Barbaschow |
July 23, 2020 -- 23:08 GMT (09:08 AEST) | Topic: Innovation
With the
federal government postponing its Budget until October, it published an
economic and fiscal update on Thursday that revealed the economic impact
COVID-19 has had.
The document
[PDF], aside from containing a trove of already announced COVID-19 schemes,
such as financial support for businesses, individuals, and families, as well as
telehealth, provided an update on a handful of tech-related initiatives.
The
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be given a total of
AU$19.2 million to continue its work on the Consumer Data Right (CDR).
The
government will also provide AU$6.2 million in funding to the Department of the
Treasury to support an information and awareness campaign to introduce CDR to
consumers and businesses and drive uptake, it said.
-----
https://www.zdnet.com/article/covidsafes-problems-arent-google-or-apples-fault-despite-government-claims/
COVIDSafe's problems aren't Google or Apple's fault
despite government claims
Australia's
COVIDSafe app is unreliable, and so far has proved to be of little practical
benefit, but it doesn't have to be an ongoing political sideshow.
By Stilgherrian |
July 21, 2020 -- 04:51 GMT (14:51 AEST) | Topic: Security
The iOS
version of Australia's troubled COVID-19 contact tracing app, COVIDSafe, tries
to connect to every device a user's phone has ever connected to, indefinitely,
and that's just one of the lingering bugs.
Every time
the Bluetooth controller disconnects from a device, such as when COVIDSafe
successfully exchanges data with another app user, it will attempt the
reconnect 15 seconds later.
"When
devices go out of range or switch identifier, these connections will stay
pending indefinitely," wrote Richard Nelson, when reporting
the bug some 16 days ago.
"This is
almost certainly the cause of COVIDSafe causing some (maybe not all) issues
with connections to Apple Watch and other devices."
-----
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/us-and-australia-set-to-launch-campaign-to-counter-disinformation-20200724-p55f9f.html
US and Australia set to launch campaign to counter
disinformation
By Anthony Galloway and Eryk Bagshaw
July 25, 2020
— 12.01am
Australia and
the United States are set to launch a joint bid to counter disinformation
campaigns from countries like China and Russia, as Beijing and Washington trade
consulate closures in a sharp escalation of diplomatic tensions between the
world's two largest economies.
Australian
Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will fly to
Washington on Sunday for major talks with their US counterparts at the most
tense time for relations with China since diplomatic links were established in
the 1970s.
The ministers
plan to agree on measures to counter disinformation campaigns by authoritarian
states, boost health security in the Indo-Pacific and help the region recover
from the coronavirus crisis.
Senator Payne
and Senator Reynolds, who will have to self-quarantine for 14 days when they
return to Australia, will have a series of meetings with US Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper as part of the Australia-United
States Ministerial Consultations.
-----
https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/news-and-media/my-health-record-stories/are-you-crisis-ready
Are you crisis ready?
24
July, 2020 ADHA Propaganda
In
the city of Townsville, Hospital Nursing Director Debbie Maclean has been on
the frontline of numerous crisis events – it’s even earned her the nickname,
'Disaster Debbie'. But what happens when she’s on the other side of the
disaster?
Are
you crisis ready? Make sure your shared health summary in your My Health Record
is up to date. Whether you’re visiting a GP for a check-up, or in an emergency
room following an accident and are unable to talk, healthcare providers
involved in your care can access your important health information, including
your allergies medicines, medical conditions and pathology test results.
-----
https://www.gphn.org.au/webinar-digital-health-standards-selection-process/
Webinar on ‘Digital health standards selection
process’
The
Australian Institute of Digital Health is working with the Australian
Digital Health Agency to develop a process for digital health
standards selection for national use and adoption.
This
session on Tuesday 28 July from 1-2pm is titled ‘Digital health standards
selection process’ and will be followed up by targeted industry and key
stakeholder consultation sessions through August coordinated by the AIDH.
Leading
healthcare executive, Dr Tim Smyth, will facilitate the discussion with senior
representatives from the standards community, the AIDH and the Agency.
Specifically,
webinar participants will talk about ways to develop a process of digital
health standards selection for national use and adoption to form part of a
broader strategic approach to standards and standards lifecycle management.
To
find out more or to register visit the Australasian Institute of Digital Health
(AIDH) event webpage
-----
https://itwire.com/open-sauce/queensland-says-covidsafe-app-has-not-caught-even-one-infection.html
Author's Opinion
The
views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
views of iTWire.
Have
your say and comment below.
Friday, 24 July 2020 09:28
Queensland says COVIDSafe app has not caught even one
infection
By Sam Varghese
The
Queensland Department of Health has indicated that not a single COVID-19
positive individual has been identified as a COVIDSafe user in the state.
The
department was sent a query — as were all other health departments in the
country barring a few territories which had no email addresses for contact — on
15 July.
Not
a single other health department from the bigger or smaller states has
responded, though many may have not bothered to do so because I did not state a
deadline. And then again, who is iTWire?
Still,
it is instructive that Queensland, a state which people from Victoria and NSW
are often prone to criticise and class as somewhat uncivilised, was the only
state that bothered to reply.
-----
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/asia-pacific/digital-maturity-ecosystem-perspective
Digital maturity: An ecosystem perspective
The new HIMSS
Digital Health Indicator is a new way of thinking about system-wide insights
into digital maturity, said Tim Kelsey, SVP, HIMSS Analytics International.
By Dean Koh
July 23, 2020
03:29 AM
Summarizing
one of the key questions from the examples of how technology is being used to
support healthcare systems in China, Malaysia and the Philippines
during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Tim Kelsey, Senior Vice
President, HIMSS Analytics International asked: “How do we bank on those
advances and build on the momentum?”
At
the closing keynote of the HIMSS APAC Malaysia Digital Health Summit, Kelsey
said that one of the key priorities that have emerged or is emerging, in a very
accelerated manner during the course of the pandemic, is the importance of
digital maturity. That means the ability to measure the impact that digital
investments (in healthcare) are having on service outcomes.
“Without
the ability to measure (the impact of digital maturity), we can’t expect to be
able to manage,” he added.
HIMSS
Digital Health Indicator
HIMSS
has worked for a number of years in supporting healthcare providers, health
systems and payers to be able to measure their digital maturity. In April, the
new Digital
Health Indicator (DHI) framework was launched and it helps a health
system, geography, region or even a country to assess their current levels of
digital maturity and how they can improve that over time.
The
DHI looks at four key measurements/outcomes: governance and workforce,
interoperability, person-enabled health and predictive analytics. It builds on
HIMSS seven maturity and adoption models, which include the Electronic Medical
Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) and Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM). The
assessment of DHI is carried out virtually, so as to reduce administrative
burdens.
-----
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/how-ai-can-help-in-a-pandemic/news-story/d963d0af873c3727b4dc12e60188e3c7
How AI can help in a
pandemic
Jason Waller
·
2:20PM July 22, 2020
The
latest COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria and southern Sydney highlight exactly how
quickly this virus can wrest itself from the control of health authorities and
how deeply unprepared Australia is to cope with a pandemic. Changes need to be
made to our healthcare system now, not just to deal with this coronavirus, but
so we can deal with the next one (and there will be a next one) more
effectively.
Initial
modelling of the healthcare system showed we needed to instigate measures to
flatten the curve, which in return was supposed to relieve our hospitals, and
prevent avoidable deaths arising from an overloaded healthcare system.
‘Flattening the curve’ involves community isolation measures that keep the
number of daily infection rates at a manageable level for medical systems. This
means the total number of infections do occur, but just over a longer period.
The next step after flattening the curve is a controlled transmission curve,
whereby the virus dies out after ‘herd immunity’ is reached. For this to happen,
60-70 per cent of the population needs to be infected. If initial indications
show that underlying immunity exists from other similar viruses, that figure
may be less. This approach ultimately sees the virus die out.
Australia
began flattening the curve but then it failed to adopt the second half of the
approach. We seem to have gone from buying time, to zero tolerance. In my
opinion, this is a grave mistake because there are no other viable options open
to us. Even the most optimistic virologist acknowledges a vaccination is at
least 12 months away. And it’s worth noting too that a coronavirus vaccination
has never been successfully developed. Either way, we don’t have the economic
balance sheet to fund 12 months of lockdown, never mind the current never-ending
cycle while ever politicians adopt an eradication mindset.
-----
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8e485fa1-3439-433f-8d52-577e289d2e01
Cybersecurity best practices in Australia
McCullough Robertson
Best
practice
Increased protection
Do the
authorities recommend additional cybersecurity protections beyond what is mandated
by law?
Yes.
The ASD provides cybersecurity advice in its publication Strategies to Mitigate
Cyber Security Incidents. The guidelines are designed for implementation by IT
specialists and are based on the ASD’s analysis of reported security incidents
and identified vulnerabilities. The guidelines address targeted cyber
intrusions, external adversaries with destructive intent, ransomware, ‘business
email compromise’ and industrial control systems.
How
does the government incentivise organisations to improve their cybersecurity?
The
government is investing significantly in cybersecurity research and
development. The Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (AustCyber),
coordinated by the Cyber Security Growth Centre, is an independent
not-for-profit organisation funded by federal government grants that
facilitates enhanced cybersecurity innovation and research and development.
AustCyber seeks to develop workforce skills in the cybersecurity sector and
seek opportunities for Australian cybersecurity businesses to access global
markets. Data61 is a branch of the government-funded agency CSIRO that is
encouraging information-sharing, cross-collaboration and growth across
Australia’s cybersecurity research, government and industry cohorts. The
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science is also improving the
capabilities of its Entrepreneurs’ Programme Business Advisers to assist
businesses facing a high cyberthreat and provide advice about cybersecurity.
-----
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/lightbulb-moment-in-the-fight-against-hack-attacks/news-story/4fdd34e711ea2e0b6b6df98f4d062ee2
Lightbulb moment in the
fight against hack attacks
RACHAEL FALK
·
12:00AM July 23, 2020
In our daily lives, routine actions have predictable outcomes.
Turn on a tap, water runs. Flick a switch, a light comes on. Dial a phone
number, it rings.
These are ordinary, mundane yet essential actions that we take for
granted. But we should not.
Critical infrastructure — the functions and services that make
life run smoothly — underpins almost everything we do. So, imagine if these
services just stopped.
When people think about cyber crime and its intentions, data theft
generally comes to mind. This is undoubtedly often a prime objective of cyber
criminals, but disruption to critical infrastructure has increasingly been
highlighted as another key goal. Simply making a network (and its functions and
services) unavailable can wreak havoc. The federal government’s decision to
exclude high-risk vendors from Australia’s 5G network is an example of
protecting a critical network from such risk.
-----
https://www.facebook.com/MyHealthRec/videos/1015303582228620/
My Health Record for nurses
My
Health Record ADHA Propaganda
2020
is the World
Health Organization (WHO) #YearoftheNurseandMidwife and we’re proud
to support these #healthcare providers as they continue to
play a critical role in keeping all Australians safe. Learn more: http://bit.ly/MHRforNurses
-----
https://www.smh.com.au/national/telehealth-roll-backs-are-short-sighted-and-dangerous-20200721-p55e21.html
Telehealth roll-backs are short-sighted and dangerous
By Dr
Catriona Melville
July 21, 2020 — 4.34pm
COVID-19
has tested the world’s healthcare systems. Movement restrictions and second
wave infections have forced healthcare providers to innovate to deliver medical
services to patients. Telehealth is one innovation that healthcare providers
globally have expanded to provide timely services to patients during the
pandemic.
At
the start of the pandemic the Australian government acted swiftly to broaden
the Medicare Benefits Schedule, or MBS, to support expanded telehealth
services. This included broadening the criteria for access to the MBS item
numbers for telehealth consultations by GPs and other health professionals to
new patients. This has meant that patients have had more choice in the doctors
they can consult via telehealth for services that are not provided by their
regular GP. This includes the medical termination of pregnancy, STI testing and
treatment including HIV prevention services.
On
Monday, the criteria for MBS support of telehealth during this pandemic was
wound back so that patients can only access telehealth services under the
scheme if they are a regular patient of a GP or practice and have been an
active patient within the last 12 months.
-----
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=1ee96acd-54e0-474f-ba0e-86409f1f46e6
OAIC and UK ICO announce joint investigation into
Clearview AI
K&L Gates LLP
Australia, United Kingdom July 20 2020
On
9 July 2020, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
and the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced they have opened a
joint investigation into the personal information handling practices of
Clearview AI Inc.
The
OAIC has stated the investigation will focus on ClearView AI’s use of “scraped”
data and biometrics of individuals.
The
OAIC and ICO’s announcement follows the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of
Canada’s announcement earlier this year
that it had opened an investigation into Clearview AI.
Clearview
AI is a facial recognition technology company that advertises itself as a “new
research tool used by law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators and
victims of crime”. Its most well-publicised app, Clearview, is a facial
recognition app that apparently allows a user to upload any photo of an
individual and retrieve matching photos of that person from the Internet, with
links to where those photos are located.
-----
https://www.fnarena.com/index.php/2020/07/22/the-future-of-healthcare-has-already-arrived/
The Future Of Healthcare Has Already Arrived
Australia
| 10:00 AM
Covid-19 and
lockdowns have accelerated the success of telehealth services with Australian
companies among key beneficiaries
-Global
pandemic has accelerated adoption of telehealth services
-ASX-listed healthcare companies among beneficiaries
-More telehealth small caps to IPO next six months
By Anastasia
Santoreneos & Mark Woodruff
The covid-19
pandemic has wreaked havoc on the Australian share market, but one sector
that’s skated around the major economic downturn is the health sector, thanks
to the quick-thinking of medical tech companies.
The government’s
swift action on social distancing measures meant regulatory changes came in
thick and fast for companies like Cochlear ((COH))
and ResMed ((RMD)), as they could develop
remote patient monitoring tools for medical professionals to continue their
work without needing to physically be with the patient.
The adoption
of these services was phenomenal.
As a direct
result of Covid-19, the utilisation of telehealth, that is remote GP consultations,
now accounts for 35% of government benefits paid for GP attendances, according
to a report by Morgan Stanley.
-----
https://www.ddwmphn.com.au/news/digital-health-update-july-2020
Digital Health Update July 2020
July 21, 2020
Electronic
prescriptions - new training courses now available
The
Australian Digital Health Agency electronic prescriptions eLearning courses for
both prescribers and dispensers are now available. The eLearning courses are
free and can be accessed at training.digitalhealth.gov.au. The courses have
been accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council, Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners, and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Practitioners completing the courses can claim CPD/PDP credits/points upon the
successful completion of each module.
The
eLearning courses include three modules:
- Introducing electronic prescriptions
- Using electronic prescriptions
- Preparing for electronic
prescriptions.
After
completing the course learners will be able to:
- describe what electronic
prescriptions are and where they are stored
- discuss the token model and how it
is used to prescribe and dispense medicines
- identify key legislative and
software conformance requirements
- outline the steps that healthcare
providers need to follow to prepare the organisation for electronic
prescriptions
- respond to common patient questions
about electronic prescriptions.
Do you have a good news story to share about how
different digital health tools helped you provide care during COVID-19?
Our
PHN is looking for good news stories and examples of how digital health has
enhanced health outcomes providing a more efficient provision of healthcare.
This could include accessing critical information through My Health Record or
the benefits of providing care through telehealth and video consultations
during COVID-19. We would like to hear from you, email communications@ddwmphn.com.au
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/hackers-that-hit-australian-targets-need-clear-consequences-550696
Hackers that hit Australian targets need "clear
consequences"
By Justin Hendry ,
Ry Crozier on
Jul 21, 2020 1:09PM
Telco-laden advisory panel to 2020 cybersecurity
strategy pushes for reform.
“Clear
consequences” are needed for attackers that target Australia or Australians,
with local defenders better resourced and willing to publicly attribute the
source of attacks more often, an industry panel of mostly telco executives
says.
The
consequences against attackers could include "enhanced law enforcement,
diplomatic means, and economic sanctions".
The
industry advisory panel to the Government’s forthcoming 2020 cyber security
strategy made public its recommendations today. [pdf]
The
telco-heavy panel includes representatives of Telstra, NBN Co and Vocus,
alongside Tesla and Northrop Grumman Australia.
-----
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/tiktok-is-the-mere-tip-of-our-privacy-problem-20200720-p55dqs.html
TikTok is the mere tip of our digital privacy problem
By Judith Bessant
July 20, 2020 — 6.49pm
TikTok
is one of the hottest new social networks today. There are 1.6 million
Australians among the 800 million worldwide users of the platform, owned by
Beijing-based Byte Dance. Basically TikTok is a video sharing app very popular
among young people, who are switching from other platforms such as Facebook and
WhatsApp. More than two thirds of TikTok’s user base are women and girls. So
why are some Australian politicians getting so hot under the collar and
demanding that we follow in India’s footsteps, where the Modi government banned
it along with 59 other Chinese-produced apps in early July?
It
is true that TikTok faces questions about its links with the Chinese state and
alleged data harvesting. Lee Hunter, its Australian general manager rejects
suggestions it should be investigated let alone banned. Prime Minister Scott
Morrison wants an investigation because he is concerned the Chinese government
requires the company to hand over user information, creating a security risk.
Labor senator Jenny McAllister, chair of a Senate social media inquiry, says
"when we have national security and tech experts raising concerns about
TikTok we have to take those concerns seriously". That
seems to be the position taken by an Age editorial, in which
it cautiously suggests that before it considers "following suit, Australia
must provide a strong case on national security grounds that a ban is
justified, as it did with the banning of Huawei's involvement in Australia's 5G
network".
-----
https://www.afr.com/rear-window/covidsafe-app-still-has-fans-20200720-p55dmi
COVIDSafe app still has fans
Myriam Robin Columnist
Jul 20, 2020
– 8.15pm
The
COVIDSafe app has, it's fair to say, fallen far short of expectations, having
not helped identify a single extra coronavirus close contact beyond those
already detected by manual contact tracers. Despite being downloaded by 6
million smartphones users.
But
it still has some supporters. Among them: those the government paid handsomely
to build it.
"COVIDSafe
app does work, but like sunscreen, it only works if you have it on," said
Boston Consulting Group partner Miguel Carrasco to his LinkedIn contacts
last week, mimicking Scott Morrison's barely cogent analogy
(sunscreen, unlike the app, works just fine in the background).
-----
https://provincialmedical.com.au/healthrecord.html
My Health Record
ADHA
Propaganda
Provincial
Medical Centre strongly supports the federal government’s implementation of the
My Health Record system and encourages all patients to register for their own
My Health Record. My Health Record is a secure online summary of your health
information which was previously known as the Personally Controlled Electronic
Health Record (PCEHR).
Until
recently, patients' healthcare information has always been held in separate
locations by different medical practitioners, pharmacists and hospitals. Most
of these records have not been shared electronically. This has meant that a
patient's access to health records has often been onerous and inefficient,
resulting in patients not always receiving the best care available. The My
Health Record system overcomes these problems and helps ensure health care is
delivered more efficiently and effectively by minimising unnecessary repeat
tests, managing medication better and improving continuity of care.
Your
My Health Record allows you and your doctors, hospitals and other healthcare
providers to view and share your health information to provide you with the
best possible care. However, control of your My Health Record lies with you:
you control what goes into it and who is allowed to access it.
To
find out more and to register for your own My Health Record click on the
following link: http://www.ehealth.gov.au/internet/ehealth/publishing.nsf/content/home
-----
https://www.afr.com/technology/user-security-vital-to-twitter-s-subscription-dreams-20200719-p55dez
User security vital to Twitter's subscription dreams
Twitter does
need to bump up sales. But if users feel that their accounts are unsafe they
will never want to pay for them.
The Lex Column
Jul 19, 2020
– 12.44pm
Twitter’s
“tough day” could turn into a tough year. On Thursday AEST, bitcoin spammers
appeared to hack the accounts of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Kanye West and other
notable Tweeters.
Concerns
about account security could jeopardise the company’s hopes of launching a
future subscription service.
Twitter
users already
love to complain about the platform, which is accused both of
excessive censorship and not being censorious enough. Boss Jack Dorsey is also
under pressure from activist investors such as Elliott Management to raise
revenue.
It
is proving difficult to parse Twitter’s business plan. To pacify Elliott, it
has agreed to a $US2 billion ($2.9 billion) share repurchase plan and appears
to be making an effort to squeeze more from users.
-----
https://www.afr.com/technology/why-the-private-sectoris-missing-out-on-cyber-threat-intelligence-20200715-p55cf0
Why the private sector is missing out on cyber threat
intelligence
Australia's
promising Cyber Security Centre is now a sock puppet for the Australian Signals
Directorate, a statutory authority within the defence department.
James Turner
Jul 20, 2020
– 12.00pm
The
formation of the Australian Cyber Security Centre created an organisation that
held enormous potential. The ACSC was an amalgam of cyber expertise from six
different government agencies and promised to enable collaboration across
government and also between government and the private sector. It was supposed
to focus on the transference of information to enhance operational
capabilities.
The
outcome we were all hoping for was a structure that would facilitate government
and private-sector organisations being better able to protect themselves.
The
ACSC was meant to be the cyber equivalent of the neighbourhood policeman
walking down main street, popping into each shop and telling the owners to
remember to lock their doors at night because of criminal activity in the area.
The
cyber equivalents of nearby criminal activity include the various activities
that rob us of our national treasure: money laundering, unauthorised
crypto-currency mining, unauthorised access of computer systems, and electronic
theft of either intellectual property or money. These examples are all crimes,
and should be responded to as crimes, not as acts of war.
-----
https://www.afr.com/technology/australia-faces-a-pandemic-led-crunch-in-ai-industry-warns-20200709-p55aiy
Australia faces a pandemic-led crunch in AI, industry
warns
John Davidson Columnist
Jul 20, 2020
– 1.00pm
A
coronavirus-led explosion in the use of artificial intelligence and machine
learning means Australia urgently needs to figure out a national AI strategy if
it is to even keep up with the rest of the world, some of the nation's top AI
start-ups have warned.
The
Brisbane-based AI and machine learning (ML) software company Max Kelsen said
that in much the same way COVID-19 has led to the rapid uptake of
video-conferencing and remote work
around the world, demand for AI and ML has surged dramatically in recent
months.
There
is increased demand for AI and ML skills in research, as scientists scramble to
figure out how to deal with the coronavirus, but moreover there has been huge
demand from the corporate sector, which is turning to AI and ML to help solve supply-chain
issues and to take the load off its human workforce, now that
workers are forced to work remotely.
"We're
seeing a decade worth of progress in just a few months," Nicholas
Therkelsen, co-founder and CEO of Max Kelsen, told The Australian Financial
Review.
-----
https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/digitisation-in-the-year-of-the-nurse-1344384667
Digitisation in the Year of the Nurse
By Jane Allman
Tuesday, 14 July, 2020
Kate
Renzenbrink, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer at Bendigo Health,
is encouraging nurses and midwives to lead the digital transition and use
informatics to improve patient care.
Digitisation
of Australian health care is transforming how patients are navigated through
the system and is changing the working lives of doctors, nurses, midwives and
allied health professionals.
Kate
Renzenbrink is currently working at Bendigo Health to support the
implementation of the electronic patient record and to ensure the nursing and
midwifery workforce has the health informatics skills to meet the challenges of
contemporary practice.
She
spoke to Hospital
+ Healthcare about the exciting space of health informatics and
digital health.
“Patient
care and safety is a critical part of the role of nurses and midwives. Digital
health is about collecting, accessing and sharing patient information and
overcoming barriers to continuity of care. What we’re aiming for is a flow of
information through the health system that stays secure and private but
supports the best possible care.
-----
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=025639ba-a8bd-497b-aca7-bd684c478177
Is it time to hit the delete key on tik tok?
EAGLEGATE
A
Brisbane cyber lawyer says calls to ban video app TikTok amid claims it‘s a
data gathering tool of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may be justified, if
extreme, due to Australia’s stand off with China.
Brisbane
cyber lawyer Sandy Zhang says media reports of fears that Tik Tok, owned by a
Chinese company, is being used by the Chinese Communist Party to track users is
heightening fears amid a stand off between Australia and China and a
deteriorating relationship between the countries.
Tik
Tok is used by 1.6 million Australians including Victorian Premier Daniel
Andrews.
Mr
Zhang, a Senior Associate with Brisbane Intellectual Property and Privacy law
firm EAGLEGATE
Lawyers, which handles matters of Commercial,
Patent law, Copyright law, Trade Marks, Domain names and general Cyber law says
in many regards Tik Tok is no different to all social media apps which track
their users.
“I
very much doubt that Tik Tok is a worse offender than any other typical social
media platform like Facebook or Snapchat, or even search platforms like Google.
All social media apps track their users.
-----
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/cba-calls-for-consumer-data-right-extension-to-global-tech-players-20200717-p55d4n
CBA calls for consumer data right extension to global
tech players
James Eyers Senior
Reporter
Jul 20, 2020
– 12.00am
Major
banks are concerned the
new open banking regime has created an unlevel playing field that
will allow global technology companies like Amazon or Facebook to use bank
customer data without having to provide anything in return.
In
the original open banking blueprint, the concept of "reciprocity" was
a central element. This would require that a company wanting to receive data
from banks, or other sectors designated for the government's consumer data
right, to be able to provide their own customers' data into the regime, if
those customers provided consent for that.
However,
the reciprocity concept was narrowed down during the process of making the
rules for open banking.
Banks
are now nervous that global players, whose profits are booked offshore, will be
able
to use the regime to get insights about banking without allowing the banks any quid
pro quo, such as data that could provide insights on customers'
retail, or social media, behaviours.
-----
https://www.afr.com/technology/covidsafe-a-tale-of-two-apps-20200717-p55cze
COVIDSafe: A tale of two apps
Ronald Mizen Reporter
Jul 20, 2020
– 9.21am
It
was the best of apps, it was the worst of apps; which one exactly is a matter
of some contention.
Scott Morrison
said downloading the COVIDSafe
app was like putting on sunscreen before going out in the sun.
"Slip,
slop and slap on the app!" the Prime Minister said. "If you want to
return to a more liberated economy and society, it is important that we get
increased numbers of downloads when it comes to the COVIDSafe app."
Some
people suggested the analogy encouraged a "delusion" the app would
somehow prevent infection; others said it encouraged complacency over social
distancing; and some even hinted at a surveillance state conspiracy.
"I
treasure the government knowing as little about me as possible," former
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce declared. "McDonald’s can tell you
where I am, and this app will tell you who I’m speaking to."
One
newspaper described it as Joyce donning a "tin hat".
-----
https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-australia-contact-tracing-personal-details-breach-risk-privacy-security-safety-covid19/9b7da004-f712-4346-9df2-55a47a79416d
Coronavirus: Privacy concerns over contact tracing of
personal details in public venues
By Luke
Cooper • Producer
3:38pm Jul
19, 2020
Coronavirus:
Concerns over who can access contact tracing information
Serious
concerns have been raised over the safety of
Australians' personal information and the risk of it being compromised by COVID-19
record-keeping requirements imposed by law on
businesses.
As states
look to slowly ease coronavirus restrictions, venues such as cafes, bars and
restaurants have been ordered by public health authorities
to log the details of patrons who enter for contact tracing purposes.
Dr Suelette
Dreyfus, a cyber privacy and security researcher at
Melbourne University, says the risk currently posed to everyday Australians is
"very real" and breaches could be happening regularly.
-----
https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2020/28/telehealth-latest-changes-may-exclude-some-patients-in-need/
Telehealth: latest changes may exclude some patients in
need
Authored by
Andrew Baird
Issue 28 / 20 July 2020
CHANGES
to eligibility for Medicare benefits for GP telehealth and phone services will
solve one problem but potentially disadvantage many patients as a result.
In
May 2020, the most
recent month for which data are available, 67% of Medicare services
at levels B, C and D were provided face-to-face, 32% were by phone, and 1% were
by video.
As
of today, Monday 20 July, eligibility for Medicare benefits for the temporary
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) telehealth
(video) services and phone services will be contingent on a patient having an
existing and continuing relationship with the GP who provides the service. This
relationship is defined as the patient having had at least one face-to-face
in-person consultation in the previous 12 months with the GP, or with another
GP at the GP’s practice.
There
are four exemptions to the requirement for an existing and continuing
relationship with the GP providing the service:
- homeless people;
- children under the age of 12 months;
- patients referred to a GP by a
non-GP specialist; and
- people living under Stage 3
restrictions in Victoria (it is implied that this would also apply in the
event that Stage 4 restrictions are imposed).
The
temporary COVID-19 telehealth service and phone service item numbers will still
expire on 30 September.
-----
https://www.gphn.org.au/australian-digital-health-agencys-digital-health-security-awareness-elearning/
Australian Digital Health Agency’s Digital Health
Security Awareness eLearning course
Digital
Health Security Awareness eLearning course is now available on the Agency’s
training platform.
This
free Digital Health Security Awareness course is designed for people who work
in a variety of healthcare settings and roles. It includes examples that relate
cyber security concepts to people’s work in healthcare organisations. The
course has been developed by the Agency’s cyber security team, in consultation
with representatives from a range of healthcare settings and disciplines,
including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, practice management and allied health.
The
Digital Health Security Awareness eLearning course includes five modules and
will enable learners to:
- Describe common cyber security risks
and recognise that they are continually evolving
- Adopt positive security behaviours
to protect sensitive information
- Identify ways to reduce the
likelihood of being impacted by cyber security threats
- Outline what to do in the case of a
cyber security incident
- Identify key legislation and data
breach reporting requirements
Go to course
-----
Comments more
than welcome!
David.
