And with progress in medical research increasingly driven by such techniques, the value of NHS data will only increase over time. Free flows of data, including removing barriers to “data localisation”, imply that very sensitive health data could be taken and placed on servers outside of UK domestic law. The first is to bar attempts to undermine data localisation in any post-Brexit trade deals – the “free flow of data” should not be taken as inherent good. We need now also to think about how best to maximise and protect its public value. • James Meadway is an associate fellow of the Institute for Public Policy Research

Source: The Guardian December 09, 2019 14:15 UTC