Google Prevails in UK Privacy Lawsuit Over NHS Medical Data Deal
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Google Defeats UK Privacy Lawsuit Over Medical Data Deal
LONDON (Reuters) - Google on Wednesday defeated an attempt in a London court to revive a lawsuit brought by a hospital patient on behalf of 1.6 million people over medical records provided to the U.S. tech giant by a British hospital trust. The Royal Free London NHS Trust transferred patient data to Google's artificial intelligence firm DeepMind Technologies in 2015 to help develop a mobile app to detect kidney injuries. Britain's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, said in 2017 that the Royal Free, which is part of the public National Health Service (NHS), misused patient data when it provided the information to DeepMind. Google and DeepMind were sued in 2022 by Royal Free patient Andrew Prismall on behalf of 1.6 million people for alleged misuse of private information. London's High Court threw out the lawsuit last year on the grounds that there was no prospect of establishing that all 1.6 million claimants' private information was misused or that they had any expectation of privacy in relation to the information. Prismall sought to appeal that decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on Wednesday. Prismall's lawyers declined to comment. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Google defeats UK privacy lawsuit over medical data deal
LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Google on Wednesday defeated an attempt in a London court to revive a lawsuit brought by a hospital patient on behalf of 1.6 million people over medical records provided to the U.S. tech giant by a British hospital trust. The Royal Free London NHS Trust transferred patient data to Google's artificial intelligence firm DeepMind Technologies in 2015 to help develop a mobile app to detect kidney injuries. Britain's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, said in 2017 that the Royal Free, which is part of the public National Health Service (NHS), misused patient data when it provided the information to DeepMind. Google and DeepMind were sued in 2022 by Royal Free patient Andrew Prismall on behalf of 1.6 million people for alleged misuse of private information. London's High Court threw out the lawsuit last year on the grounds that there was no prospect of establishing that all 1.6 million claimants' private information was misused or that they had any expectation of privacy in relation to the information. Prismall sought to appeal that decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on Wednesday. Prismall's lawyers declined to comment. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:CybersecurityLawsuits
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Google successfully defends against a privacy lawsuit in the UK concerning the transfer of 1.6 million patients' medical records from the Royal Free London NHS Trust to its AI firm DeepMind Technologies.
Background of the Case
In 2015, the Royal Free London NHS Trust transferred patient data to DeepMind Technologies, an artificial intelligence firm owned by Google. The purpose of this data transfer was to aid in the development of a mobile application designed to detect kidney injuries
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. However, this move sparked controversy and legal challenges due to privacy concerns.Initial Regulatory Response
In 2017, the UK's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), made a significant ruling. The ICO stated that the Royal Free, which is part of the National Health Service (NHS), had misused patient data when it provided the information to DeepMind
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. This ruling highlighted the sensitive nature of medical data and the importance of proper handling in AI development.Legal Action and High Court Decision
The controversy escalated in 2022 when Andrew Prismall, a patient at the Royal Free, initiated a lawsuit against Google and DeepMind. Prismall filed the suit on behalf of 1.6 million people, alleging misuse of private information
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. However, London's High Court dismissed the lawsuit, citing that there was no realistic prospect of establishing that all 1.6 million claimants' private information was misused or that they had any expectation of privacy regarding the information1
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Appeal and Final Verdict
Following the High Court's decision, Prismall sought to appeal the ruling. However, on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, effectively ending the legal challenge
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. This decision marks a significant victory for Google in the realm of data privacy and AI development using medical records.Implications and Reactions
The case highlights the ongoing tension between technological advancement in healthcare and patient privacy rights. While Google has successfully defended its position, the lawsuit has brought attention to the complexities surrounding the use of personal medical data in AI development.
Prismall's legal team declined to comment on the Court of Appeal's decision, while Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment
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. The outcome of this case may have far-reaching implications for future collaborations between tech companies and healthcare providers, potentially influencing how patient data is shared and used in AI research and development.References
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