Aryan Mahindra

Joseph Bae, Rohan Sukumaran, Sheshank Shankar et al.

In this early draft, we describe a user-centric, card-based system for vaccine distribution. Our system makes use of digitally signed QR codes and their use for phased vaccine distribution, vaccine administration/record-keeping, immunization verification, and follow-up symptom reporting. Furthermore, we propose and describe a complementary scanner app system to be used by vaccination clinics, public health officials, and immunization verification parties to effectively utilize card-based framework. We believe that the proposed system provides a privacy-preserving and efficient framework for vaccine distribution in both developed and developing regions.

Rohan Iyer, Regina Rex, Kevin P. McPherson et al.

There is a growing need for spatial privacy considerations in the many geo-spatial technologies that have been created as solutions for COVID-19-related issues. Although effective geo-spatial technologies have already been rolled out, most have significantly sacrificed privacy for utility. In this paper, we explore spatial k-anonymity, a privacy-preserving method that can address this unnecessary tradeoff by providing the best of both privacy and utility. After evaluating its past implications in geo-spatial use cases, we propose applications of spatial k-anonymity in the data sharing and managing of COVID-19 contact tracing technologies as well as heat maps showing a user's travel history. We then justify our propositions by comparing spatial k-anonymity with several other spatial privacy methods, including differential privacy, geo-indistinguishability, and manual consent based redaction. Our hope is to raise awareness of the ever-growing risks associated with spatial privacy and how they can be solved with Spatial K-anonymity.