Democrats in Congress have introduced the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act, sponsored by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Warner (D-VA). The bill would put temporary rules in place regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of emergency health data used to combat the spread of the coronavirus, expiring when the Department of Health and Human Services declares the pandemic over.
The act would only apply to personal data concerning the COVID-19 health emergency, including physical or behavioral health information and data such as geolocation data, proximity data, and demographic data, collected for the purpose of tracking, screening, monitoring, contact tracing, or otherwise responding to COVID-19. It would require that organizations secure such data and protect the privacy of individuals.