Supporting Pandemic Preparedness with Privacy Enhancing Technology

Ruixuan Liu, Sepanta Zeighami, Haowen Lin, Cyrus Shahabi, Yang Cao, Shun Takagi, Yoko Konishi, Masatoshi Yoshikawa, Li Xiong

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic magnified the profound repercussions of modern health crises on a global level. To effectively prepare for subsequent outbreaks, a focus on hyperlocal, real-time tracking of disease trajectories is crucial. At the heart of this strategy lies the fusion of real-time mobility data with epidemiological insights and social determinants. This synergy enables authoritative entities to make timely and informed decisions. However, the intricate process of collecting, analyzing, and sharing data among diverse stakeholders is fraught with privacy dilemmas, thereby impeding optimal data-driven preparedness strategies. To address this, privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) have risen to prominence as indispensable tools in bolstering pandemic readiness. This paper seeks to elucidate the prevailing challenges and unexplored avenues within this dynamic domain.