Court Dismisses UK Privacy Lawsuit Against Google
Google secured a legal victory in London on Wednesday, as the Court of Appeal dismissed an attempt to revive a lawsuit alleging misuse of medical records involving 1.6 million patients. The lawsuit stemmed from data shared by the Royal Free London NHS Trust with Google’s AI firm, DeepMind Technologies, in 2015. The data was used to develop a mobile app aimed at detecting kidney injuries.
Background of the Case
In 2017, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Britain’s data protection regulator, ruled that the Royal Free NHS Trust, a public healthcare provider, improperly shared patient data with DeepMind. The sharing of this data led to a 2022 lawsuit filed by Royal Free patient Andrew Prismall on behalf of 1.6 million individuals, alleging a breach of privacy.
Last year, the High Court dismissed the lawsuit, stating there was no substantial evidence to prove that all claimants’ private information was misused or that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy concerning the data.
Appeal Dismissed by the Court
On Wednesday, Prismall’s effort to appeal the High Court’s ruling was denied by the Court of Appeal, effectively putting an end to the case. Prismall’s legal representatives declined to comment, and Google has yet to issue a public statement regarding the decision.
Key Points of the Lawsuit
- Data Sharing for AI Development: The Royal Free NHS Trust transferred patient data to DeepMind to aid in creating an app for early detection of acute kidney injuries.
- Privacy Concerns: The ICO determined the data-sharing arrangement violated patient privacy laws.
- Legal Action and Outcome: The lawsuit was initially dismissed in 2023, and the recent appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeal.
Implications for Data Privacy
This ruling underscores the complexities surrounding data sharing in healthcare and technology partnerships. While the use of AI in medical advancements offers significant potential, concerns about data privacy and ethical standards remain at the forefront of public discussions.
Source: Reuters
