Project summary

We are currently amidst a wave of digital health evolution, characterized by the integration of advanced digital technologies into health and care, including artificial intelligence, wearables, and healthmonitoring sensors. These technologies hold immense potential for enhancing care provision, particularly in aging societies such as Europe.

However, this rapid development also presents substantial challenges to the legal governance of health data. In particular, the surge in health data processing gives rise to two conflicting needs. On one hand, the processing of large quantities of health data is essential for addressing societal demands, especially in the context of elderly care. On the other hand, ensuring the privacy of individuals requires robust legal frameworks to protect health data from misuse, often necessitating strict limitations on data processing. This tension highlights the need for legal frameworks that not only safeguard health data privacy but also facilitate its effective utilization. To fully harness the benefits of digital health technologies, it is crucial to explore the legal governance of health data in a comparative, international context.

Taking a global perspective, Zhicheng’s doctoral project entails a comparative legal study examining the regulatory paradigms governing health data in two major aging societies, the European Union and China. By comparatively investigating the regulatory landscapes of the EU and China, Zhicheng’s dissertation sheds light on the interplay between the protection of health data privacy and the processing of such data to meet the challenges posed by an aging population.

During the seminar, Zhicheng will present his project, with a focus on the respective legal approaches of health data governance in both the EU and China. Associate Professor Patricia Jonason of Södertörn University will act as an opponent.

Registration

For those interested in participating in the seminar and receiving a copy of the text, please contact [email protected] latest the 24th of November. Participation online is also possible. A zoom link will be provided shortly before the seminar.

Welcome!

Mauro Zamboni, Stanley Greenstein and Zhicheng He