Digital civil rights organization Bits of Freedom has nominated VWS minister Schippers, AIVD head Rob Bertholee and WhatsApp for the Big Brother Awards of 2016. The organization presents the prize to who or what it considers to be the biggest privacy violator of the year.
Edith Schippers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, has been nominated for proposing an amendment to the Healthcare Market Regulation Act. This expands the possibilities for health insurers to view patient files in order to combat insurance fraud in health care. The law has passed the House of Representatives, which is seen as a ‘further erosion of medical professional secrecy’. According to NRC, the damage caused by fraud committed by policyholders amounts to 0.015 percent of the healthcare budget.
AIVD head Rob Bertholee has been nominated because of recent statements about encryption in messaging apps. He would prefer that this be limited to facilitate the fight against terrorism. A side effect of restricting encryption is that all users of the apps in question also become more vulnerable to espionage and attacks by random hackers or other governments. In addition, according to Bits of Freedom, Bertholee is nominated for how he “represents privacy and security as opposites”.
Finally, WhatsApp is in the list. Earlier this year it was announced that the data in the application will be shared with Facebook, despite policies and promises from WhatsApp foreman Jan Koum and Mark Zuckerberg. Users had the option of opting out temporarily, but this only applies to the use of the data for advertising purposes. Everyone’s data is used for other purposes.
Bits of Freedom does not determine who will be nominated and who or what ultimately emerges as the winner. The nominees are determined based on entries received by the organization. They can come from anyone. The public also determines who ultimately takes home the prize. You can vote immediately. On November 7, Bits of Freedom will announce the nominations for the Expert Award. They have been appointed by scientists, columnists, activists and business people. In previous years, the prize went to the Tax Authorities, Minister Opstelten, the National Police and twice to Minister Plasterk.