Last week we were collectively very excited about the Constitution and sovereignty.
But during this time, existential debates about another sovereignty, digital, went almost unnoticed.
I'm talking about our medical data here. Santa Quebec just realized that Major changes to digital health records put our data at risk.
Another great example of the government's lack of foresight or even skill when it comes to information technology.
CLOUD
The company Quebec entrusted with its digital health record is American. As such, Epic Systems is subject to the CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act). Therefore, American authorities have every opportunity to demand that she hand over her data.
Do you want your medical data in the hands of the Trump administration? The Minister of Health is enlightened enough to ban Tylenol for pregnant women. Who knows if he might catch the fad of medical records being kept in the US?
Moreover, in the era of accountability that the Legault government claims, who will be responsible for leaking our data?
No plan B
The worst part is that Quebec should have known about the risk. The CLOUD Act was passed in 2018, six years before the Epic Systems contract was awarded!
We would dare to believe that there are at least one or two civil servants in the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Technology who are concerned about digital sovereignty. But no, we just woke up.
Santé-Quebec is looking for a solution, we are reassured. Good luck!
Does anyone really imagine that the Trump administration is inclined to negotiate on such a strategic issue? Digital sovereignty is the essence of our times. The United States is unlikely to be in the mood to breach the fortress it has built.
