Kerala HC asks state to file report on plea challenging deal with US firm for Covid data

Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, asked state government to file a report on plea challenging COVID-19 data processing contract with a US firm and directed it to file a statement by April 24 on details of deal.

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Kerala government under pressure

"We do t want you to uplo data unless you can tell us that data is confidential from [Sprinklr] also. Cant accept submission that data collected is t sensitive. If Kerala government thinks information is t sensitive, something is amiss," bench, comprising of Justices Devan Ramachandran and T R Ravi, remarked.

bench also directed government to explain reason for engaging a foreign firm for such works when government IT wings are re to do job. court observed that state government will be held responsible if firm misused data.

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"We are proud that Kerala has done well in controlling COVID-19. But we have also concerns about data confidentiality. A citizen is t privy to contract between Kerala Government and company. If that company misuses data, state government is responsible. If re is a breach tomorrow, State Government will have to go to New York. We do t kw why State of Kerala chose New York as jurisdiction", Justice Devan Ramachandran observed.

state government h entered into a contract with IT company based out of US, owned by a n-resident Keralite, wherein data of suspected and actual patients of COVID-19 virus will be collected using government machinery and is uploed to foreign firm''s web server on a daily basis.

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IT company, in turn, will provide actual data to State machinery after analysis, for better understanding and treatment of pandemic.

petition was filed by Balu Gopalakrishnan, who said he was concerned about manner in which data regarding COVID19 patients in state are collected, stored, analysed and retrieved.

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