A disaster waiting to happen
A privacy nightmare is how campaigners labelled Amazon’s new initiative allowing people to ask Alexa for medical advice from the UK National Health Service. It’s a ‘data protection disaster waiting to happen.’
Patients apparently can now receive NHS approved answers to basic medical enquiries such as. ‘Alexa, what are the symptoms of flu?’
Patient empowerment?
Health secretary Matt Hancock said it would, ’empower every patient to take control of their healthcare’.
And, that’s all very well but that’s assuming ‘every patient’ will have access to Alexa? It could actually worsen an already over worked system creating an ‘access’ divide, for those with and those without internet connectivity.
In principle, it’s a commendable idea. It will help those to access the internet who struggle with keyboard access, for instance.
But it makes three rather large assumptions; the first that we all have internet connections, the second we all have access to Alexa and third, but most important of all we all don’t mind the privacy risk – our personal questions are ‘out there’ and potentially it’s not really private and secure, is it?
Encrypted and confidential
Amazon say the system is encrypted and will be confidential. That’s all very well, but haven’t we been there before with reports recently of Amazon staff listening to recorded customer conversations?
Verdict
The jury is out, more reassurances are required. The privacy element is of real concern. In principle it is a good idea, this is where technology is heading. But the privacy question remains a very big concern.
Free at your nearest GP?
Maybe the NHS will give one away with every GP visit – oh, and an internet connection too.