Society
Page 40
tional amendments were able to deliver on their stated aims. We were thrilled to be joined by a range of speakers from academics to activists from diverse backgrounds, to explore issues arising from the referenda on Marriage Equality, Citizenship and the Eighth Amendment, as well as the future considerations of constitutional change in Ireland such as the Right to Housing and extending voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad. One of the best aspects of running our first mini-series was how it facilitated us in examining a broad topic from a range of angles which we have not had the ability to do previously, as generally our weekly speaker events are focused on distinct topics often related to the themed college weeks. The series allowed us to reflect on some of the defining constitutional changes in recent years as well as contemplate significant issues which may be on a ballot in the near future. The series truly was a passion project of the whole committee, with more than half of us being involved in its running. At Trinity FLAC, we’d like to thank our dedicated committee and all of our members for making the semester an unforgettable one to say the least!
FLAC & The Eagle: Trinity Law Gazette Social Justice Essay Competition Winner: The Risk to Data Protection in the Developing World During the Pandemic By Julia Best, JS Law The debate on data protection in the western world during the pandemic
In the wake of the global pandemic and rapid increase of Covid-19 cases, technology became more vital than ever. As people were separated from their loved ones for extended periods, technology became a comforting ally to ensure that people could stay connected. However, simultaneously to this, technology was being developed to keep people apart and prevent the further spread of the virus. Many governments across the world began to initiate plans of mass surveillance to ensure that those residing in their state were complying with lockdown and quarantine regulations. In Ireland, the Track and Trace app was launched on July 6th. Northern Ireland followed closely behind, releasing the app in late July. Prior to this, location data had already been implemented to track the spread of the virus in European countries such as Italy, Spain and Belgium. The Director of the UN Global Pulse and Co-
