Fraunhofer IOSB: Privacy by design for efficient data protection

Cover picture: Bernhard Hermant / Unsplash

In the care sector, the handling of personal data represents a particular balancing act. On the one hand, lives can be saved through the use of innovative systems. On the other hand, the personal data of people in need of care must be protected. The Fraunhofer IOSB in Karlsruhe is conducting basic research to solve this problem.

“If video cameras in a care home record a fall, the system must automatically sound the alarm. Otherwise, however, the recordings must not be used,” says Erik Krempel, citing one such example. The scientist from the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics and Image Exploitation (IOSB) in Karlsruhe has been working intensively on such issues in recent years. “Privacy by design” is the keyword for solving such problems. This means that data protection must already play an important role in the development of a system. For this reason, only the personal data that is absolutely necessary for the respective application should be collected. Only then will you be immune to possible misuse and legal action later on.

Topic gained new momentum due to GDPR

“The topic has been on our minds for a very long time. But since the GDPR at the latest, the discussion about data protection has gained momentum,” says Krempel. With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), consumer rights regarding the protection of personal data have been strengthened by the European Union. In principle, not much has changed since the regulation came into force on May 18, 2018, says Krempel. However, since the broad public debate about the purpose of the new regulation, all companies have been sensitized to the handling of their user data.

IOSB conducts basic research and advises companies

At the IOSB, the scientists are primarily concerned with basic research. Where is data generated and processed and what is done with it later are some of the questions that are asked there.

“If we can find the right answers to such questions, we can advise companies on the development of secure systems,” emphasizes Krempel. To sensitize IT experts to the topic, the IOSB has drawn up seven basic principles for the best possible protection of IT users. Visibility and transparency are just as much a part of this as a proactive approach to the topic and data protection as a standard setting for new IT systems.

Data protection must be guaranteed for medical apps

According to Krempel, the topic will play a major role in the future, particularly in the development of medical apps. Intelligent and secure systems are needed to evaluate and protect medical data at the same time.

However, video surveillance in public spaces or the prosecution of criminal offenses are also always a legal balancing act between protecting the public from criminals and protecting personal data.