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Conclusion

In my opinion, the privacy protection which the DeCODE database appears likely to provide falls well short of the minimum standards demanded elsewhere in the developed world, and supplying information to it will thus raise severe ethical problems. The Icelandic Medical Association should therefore oppose it.

There is also a grave risk that this bill, if enacted, will undermine confidence in Iceland's ability to be trusted with the processing of personal information from other countries. This would isolate Iceland from the EU's information economy, and may well impose costs on the Icelandic economy which will greatly exceed any benefits.



Ross Anderson
1998-10-20