With the news that the UK government said that businesses are free to pursue vaccination ID tech, how likely are vaccine passports?

Vaccine Passports

The phrase ‘vaccine passports’ refers to people (who have been vaccinated) being able to show proof of vaccination in the form of digital vaccination credentials/a digital ID, perhaps on an app, enabling them to gain access to services and venues (for cinemas, events, and concerts), for international air travel, or even to get jobs. The implication is that those without a vaccine passport will not have access to these things.

What Would It Take?

Vaccine passports would require the development of an app-based ID system that is reliable, accurate, secure, and is recognised by most businesses, organisations, and government agencies nationally and internationally (for travel overseas).

Scientists From The Royal Society appear to believe that vaccine passports are feasible and whilst not advocating the idea, they suggest that it is likely that they will be introduced and that international standardisation of the criteria for issuing vaccine passports will be required.  With this in mind, the Royal Society has outlined 12 criteria that vaccine passports could meet to be workable, which are:

– Meet benchmarks for Covid-19 immunity.

– Accommodate differences between vaccines in their efficacy and changes in vaccine efficacy against emerging variants.

– Be internationally standardised.

– Have verifiable credentials (it is possible to prove that someone has been vaccinated).

– Have defined uses.

– Be based on a platform of interoperable technologies such as different operating systems (Android or Apple) and different devices (phones, tablets and offline).

– Be secure for personal data.

– Be portable.

– Be affordable to individuals and governments.

– Meet legal standards.

– Meet ethical standards.

– Have conditions of use that are understood and accepted by the passport holders.

Already Testing

Some companies and countries are reported to be at least testing ideas for vaccine passports.  For example, Estonia, working with the World Health Organization (and others) is reported to be testing a vaccination certificate for use at its borders and Israel is reported to be developing a green passport and a purple badge, on a smartphone, linked to ID, to allow access for vaccinated people to places such as gyms, centres of worship, hotels, and more. Israel, however, has a relatively small population, a good supply of vaccine, and a centralised health care system which could make a system like a vaccine passport seem more viable.

Companies such as Salesforce and Emirates Airlines are also reported to be working on apps that could be used as vaccine passports for international travel.

No Jab, No Job

Some businesses in the UK have also been looking at ‘no jab, no job’ contracts for workers, which would most likely involve a vaccine passport.  For example, Barchester Healthcare (200 care homes in the UK) and Pimlico Plumbers have been featured in news reports as looking to implement a policy whereby all new recruits would need to have COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of getting employment with those companies.

Alternative

Although the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment), Nadhim Zahawi, appears to have offered businesses the freedom to pursue potential vaccination ID tech ideas, he has also made it clear that the UK government’s stance is that rapid flow tests would be a better method for ensuring people can enter venues safely.  Rapid (lateral) flow tests detect active infections and although they may be cheap and relatively fast (20 minutes), and good generally for detecting people at the most infectious point, there are still questions about their overall accuracy.

Some have criticised Zahawi’s suggestion that lateral flow tests would be a good option for venue access, saying that it would simply not be practical given the number of tests required, the amount of time people would be required to wait around, and the impact on prices and more.  For example, The UK Cinema Association said asking all customers to have a rapid test and then to wait 30 minutes for a result would be “impractical” and that it could lead to a “50% uplift on their cinema ticket”.

Combination

The government is hoping that the combination of the national vaccine programme as well as testing will be a way back to a kind of normal. Some are also predicting that private companies will use a proprietary solution and open protocols (e.g. blockchain) to create a hybrid solution which they will then go to the government to endorse.

Challenges – Technology, Privacy, Security, Ethics, and Discrimination

The idea of a (digital, smartphone-based) vaccine passport has many challenges including:

– The mobile technology needed may be beyond the capabilities of the UK government.

– Discrimination against those who, for whatever reason (the young, pregnant or can’t have the jab for medical reasons), have not received (or chosen not to receive) the vaccine.

– Ethical questions about forcing people to feel that they must be vaccinated and favouring those (jobs, services, and travel) who have had the vaccine.

– Scientific questions about how long immunity lasts and whether vaccines will actually protect against new variants, whether vaccination will help with any kind of ‘herd immunity’, plus how often boosters/new vaccines will be needed in the coming years.

– Questions about the legal standards required to operate this system.

– Questions about data protection and data security for digital ID and sensitive information (vaccination records and personal details).

– Questions about human rights and equality.

– A potential backlash from groups who do not want to be vaccinated.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

At this point in time, national vaccination programmes are still underway. Although initial research results have been very positive (showing that vaccination appears to be significantly reducing hospitalisation and severe symptoms among older age groups) it is still not completely clear how vaccination will affect the transmission of COVID-19 on a large scale and this in itself is a challenge for a vaccine passport idea. The UK government is currently pinning its hopes on vaccines, treatments and testing, including lateral-flow tests for rapid testing in communities and workplaces as a way forward, although suggesting to businesses that they can explore solutions may mean that other options may be considered going forward.

There is global inequality in vaccination programmes and the availability of technology (e.g. smartphones for apps) and creating international standards for passports would clearly have practical challenges in addition to all the other challenges (security, ethics, equality and more). The nature of the disease, its spread, scale, and impact are things that have not been experienced in living memory. Although there are annual, optional flu vaccinations in the UK with the record of vaccinations being held at individual surgeries, the scale and complications vaccination for COVID-19 (and where we are at globally with technology) will undoubtedly involve the need for new solutions towards record-keeping of vaccinations for a population in the developed world who are used to using smartphone apps for many forms of verification, accessing services, buying tickets and more.  It is not inconceivable then, that a kind of smartphone-based ID system that’s fast and convenient could be something that businesses in hard-hit sectors (entertainment, travel and hospitality) are hoping for and would consider to help them recover and move forward.

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has recently been reported as saying that there will be a review into the use of vaccine passports, probably led by Michael Gove and that it is possible to consider the vaccine passport issue at the same time as the rollout as vaccinations. However, the Prime Minister also acknowledged that there are some complex issues around the idea.  The announcement this week that all British adults are to be offered a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by July 31 could form the basis of a vaccine passport programme in the near future.  With schools due to go back within weeks and with more than 100 days still to go before most restrictions are lifted, however, it’s still a case of ‘wait and see’.

• Tengai

• Vodafone 

• Pymetrics 

• SRO

• Textico

• Korn Ferry

1. Problems with human bias: 
   It may be very difficult to remove completely human bias from AI-recruitment systems, as ultimately the data input into “teaching” (i.e. programming) the machine how to “think” may consist of those very human biases it aims to avoid. For example, in 2018, Amazon was reported to have scrapped its own system due to an apparent bias against female job applicants.
2. Prone to manipulation:
   AI systems could be manipulated by certain applicants.  For example, Tribe Pad (software) research found that 88 per cent of candidates who are aware of applicant tracking systems (ATS) have tried to optimise their CV (usually by adding in relevant keywords and phrases) to get through what they understand to be the initial selection process.
3. Lack of human emotion and interaction:
   Job applicants may be deterred by the thought of having to go through a completely automated hiring process.  This means that more successful AI-based recruitment platforms and processes should at least include some more human elements, such as the use of video interviewing.

Facebook faced condemnation after blocking ‘news’ content from its platform in Australia following a publishing law row, and was facing condemnation and potential challenges in other countries. A last minute turnaround  means that the Social Media giant will now return news to its Australian site but not without damage to its reputation.

New Law

In Australia, the new law, which is currently a Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in relation to digital platforms, is the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Act 2020.  Full details of the Bill can be found here:  https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020B00190

Pay For News

The Australian government argues that because big tech companies like Facebook and Google acquire customers from people who want to read the news, these tech companies should, therefore, pay newsrooms a “fair” amount for their journalism through the process of paying the news sites for snippets and links.

The Australian government also argues that having a strong news media helps democracy, but ‘traditional media’ (e.g. newspapers) have experienced a decline in sales and ad revenue, and this traditional media needs financial support.

Facebook, Google, and other tech companies are also facing the lobbying might of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Australia to encourage a change in the law that could see tech firms paying.

Facebook Blocks News

Last week, in response to the threat of being made to pay publishers under the new law, Facebook blocked Australian users from sharing or viewing news content on the platform i.e., blocked all Facebook pages of local and global news sites.

There have been reports that, in addition to blocking news content, Facebook also blocked several other sites including a bookstore, charities, a domestic violence support service, Australia’s national Basketball and Rugby bodies pages and even several government health and emergency pages (which Facebook said was a mistake).

Condemnation in Australia

The move was criticised by the Australian government, with Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying (on Facebook’s platform), “Facebook’s actions to unfriend Australia today, cutting off essential information services on health and emergency services, were as arrogant as they were disappointing.”  Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that the ban had a “huge community impact” and that “I think their actions today were unnecessary and wrong”. 

Although both sides have talked since the ban to find a solution, for the time being, the Australian government has said that it remains committed to implementing the new law.

Condemnation From Canada

Canada reacted to Facebook appearing to play hardball with the Australian government by saying that it would make Facebook Inc pay for news content. Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault highlighted the different models that the country could adopt with regards to making big tech companies pay.  For example, the Australian model requires tech companies to reach deals to pay news outlets where the links drive activity on their services, or to agree on a price through arbitration. The French model requires tech companies to hold open talks with publishers about their platforms to allow publishers to seek some kind of remuneration for use of their news content.  Mr Guilbeault said, “We are working to see which model would be the most appropriate” and described what he saw as Facebook’s move to simply cut ties with whole countries as an “unsustainable strategy”.

Condemnation From the UK

The UK has also waded into the argument with Julian Knight, the chair of the British Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee describing Facebook’s moves as “bully boy action”, saying that the blocking of news in Australia by Facebook would “ignite a desire to go further amongst legislators around the world”.

News Media Association chairman Henry Faure Walker described Facebook’s action in Australia as “a classic example of a monopoly power being the schoolyard bully”.

Google Reaching Multiple Agreements

Even though Google initially threatened to remove its search from Australia, Google (Alphabet Inc) decided to pay $1 billion to publishers globally for their news over the next three years. Google’s plan is to pay publishers to create and curate high-quality content for what Google is calling its ‘Google News Showcase’.  This new product will launch in Germany first, where Google will pay German newspapers such as Der Spiegel, Stern, Die Zeit, and in then in Brazil where Google will pay Folha de S. Paulo, Band and Infobae for content.  Further similar rollouts of paid-for content as part of the Google News Showcase are planned to take place in Belgium, India, the Netherlands, and other countries. It has been reported that so far, 200 publishers in Argentina, Australia, Britain, Brazil, Canada, and Germany have signed up to the Google News Showcase.

Last week, it was reported that the Rupert Murdoch-controlled media company News Corp had also struck a global news deal with Google.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Big Tech companies like Facebook and Google are now under pressure from many countries and some big news organisations to pay something for the news links and content featured and shared on their platforms. Although Facebook is still arguing about what the definition of ‘news’ is, many people do not accept the argument that big tech platforms are not publishers. Google appears to realise that getting into arguments with whole countries is futile and could be very damaging to its brand and has opted to pay something, but more on its own terms by agreeing to pay a set amount per year to large groups of publishers as part of its ‘Google News Showcase’. It also appears to have settled with a powerful opponent, News Corp, which should take some of the heat off. After its initial arguments, and seeing other countries queuing up to take a hard line with it, Facebook may also decide to adopt a similar strategy to Google.

The Post Office has announced that its new, free app will include the latest biometric-face matching and liveness biometric authentication.

Partnership With Yoti

As a result of a partnership with London-based digital identity company, Yoti, Post Office customers will be able to use a free app that will combine their personal data and biometrics to create a secure, reusable ID on their phone.

Yoti’s CEO, Robin Tombs, says that his company has invested over £85m creating the ID platform which, as part of Yoti’s Digital ID free app, is designed to give users a convenient way to prove their identity or age, and the app already has over nine million downloads.  The partnership between the Post Office, which combines the Post Office’s existing experience in identity services and branch network, and Yoti’s leading technology, looks set to give Yoti many more users.

Build Your Own Secure, Digital Identity on Your Smartphone

Elinor Hull, Post Office Identity Services Director says “Access to products and services is increasingly moving online” and “We’re responding to this shift with a free-to-use app that will allow customers to build their own secure digital identity on their smartphone, enabling them to easily control and prove who they are to whichever business they want to interact with”.

Enables Identity Transactions

This will mean that customers will be able to carry out identity transactions such as passport and driving licence renewals without the need to go to a Post Office branch.  Customers will also be able to use their digital identity to help them carry out other online and in-person transactions more quickly and easily, such as one-click bank account applications, job and mortgage applications, picking up parcels and for travel purposes.

In-Branch Too

The partnership with Yoti will also mean the rollout of a suite of in-branch services for customers who do not have access to a smartphone or who prefer face-to-face contact when asked to confirm their identity. The in-branch services will be launched as a pilot in 750-branches in July, thereby enabling customers to transact simply, safely, and securely both online and in person.

Useful For Businesses

The Post Office’s Elinor Hull says, “For businesses, we are providing a suite of transactional and reusable identity verification services that will enable them to serve their customers with ease, trust and at low cost.” 

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The Post Office is keen to show that it’s embracing new technology and staying competitive and relevant, and the app plus in-branch services should make it easier for the Post Office and customers with regards to service. For Yoti, which already has millions of users of its ID app, this high profile partnership will go some way further to making it a trusted market leader.  The fact is that so many products and services are now moving online (and at a faster rate with the pandemic) means that there is now a real need for a convenient and secure common trust framework that works for both users and businesses. Also, the hope is that using an app of this kind will help to deepen users’ trust and confidence in digital identities which can only help businesses as the use of biometrics for verification/authentication becomes more widespread across more industries.

If you would like to preserve all your browser tabs and reopen them the next time you restart Microsoft Edge e.g. if you’ve had to restart your machine while browsing, here’s how:

– Open Edge, click on the 3 dots (top right) and select ‘Settings’.

– Click “On startup” in the sidebar.

– Select “Continue where you left off.”

– Close the “Settings” tab. The next time Edge is closed and restarted your tabs will be where you left them.

– To always open the same pages every time you open Edge, go to “Settings, “On startup”, and choose “Open a specific page or pages”.  From here you can choose which page will be displayed whenever you open Edge.

Consumer review website Trustpilot has expressed concerns over freedom of speech after a firm of London solicitors sued someone over a bad review.

What Happened?

Philip James Waymouth, who had sought legal advice (online) from London-based Summerfield Browne solicitors appeared dissatisfied with the service and left a bad review of the solicitors on the Trustpilot website, saying that they were “another scam solicitor”.

Summerfield Browne is then reported to have (successfully) sued Mr Waymouth for a false and defamatory review, resulting in Mr Waymouth being ordered to pay an eye-watering £25,000 in libel damages.

Condemned By Trustpilot

Trustpilot has condemned the use of legal action, placing a notice next to Summerfield Browne’s profile on the Trustpilot website saying, “We strongly oppose the use of legal action to silence consumers’ freedom of speech”.  The Trustpilot notice also says, “As a public, open, review platform we believe strongly in consumers having the ability to leave feedback – good or bad – about a business at any time, without interference. 

This is the first time we’ve seen a business taking such extreme measures against a consumer voicing their genuine opinion. The vast majority of businesses on Trustpilot engage with their consumers or use our flagging tools to report content and resolve their issues.”

Even though the profile has now been temporarily closed for reviews, there are still a number of negative reviews on the Trustpilot profile for Summerfield Browne criticising the action taken, and one review appears to go into some more detailed allegations about the case.

Not Contacted

It has been reported that Trustpilot was not contacted by Summerfield Browne and that the review in question wasn’t evaluated using Trustpilot’s grievance process.

Solicitors Firm Says…

Summerfield Browne Solicitors are reported to have said of the case that “As a family firm, the decision to pursue legal action was not one we took lightly and doing so gave us no pleasure”.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Trustpilot relies on people being able to give honest opinions online about companies and their services without fear of any serious consequences. Being sued is likely to act as a deterrent for people to use platforms like Trustpilot, could reduce the value of reviews (as some may be less inclined to be totally honest), and could set a dangerous precedent for other review sites and platforms where reviews are given.  It is no surprise, therefore, that Trustpilot has been very public in its condemnation of the action of Summerfield Browne.  Some businesses, however, particularly those who have received reviews that have damaged their business e.g., on TripAdvisor, may see this as a legitimate way of reminding people to think carefully about the impact of their actions online and of giving back a little more power to businesses to protect themselves where they feel they have been treated unjustly in a way that could hit their revenue and reputation.