Research Spotlight
Discover Newcastle Law School's research into the latest global issues.
Contact tracing app
is a leading academic in the field of Internet law. Lilian is a member of the NHS COVID-19 App Data Ethics Advisory Board.
She leads a team of authors of the draft Coronavirus (Safeguards) Bill 2020: Proposed protections for digital interventions and in relation to immunity certificates.
The authors are Lilian Edwards, Michael Veale, Orla Lynskey, Rachel Coldicutt, Nóra Loideain, Frederike Kaltheuner, Marion Oswald, Rossana Ducato, Burkhard Schafer, Aileen McHarg, and Elizabeth Renieris.
This Bill looks at safeguards for symptom tracking and contact tracing apps in the UK. It anticipates minimum safeguards for roll out of “immunity certificates” (passports) in future.
Listen to @lilianedwards discuss legal, ethical and technological concerns with contact tracing apps for #COVID19 on Michael Geist's Podcast Series (@lawbytespod).
Prof Edwards took part in a British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) webinar. Watch 'COVID-19, Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance: A Conversation with Lord Tim Clement-Jones'.
Prof Edwards presented her research as part of a Society of Conservative Lawyers webinar. Watch 'THE COVID-19 APP – Does it threaten privacy rights?'
Prof Edwards spoke to Rosalind English for the Law Pod UK. You can listen to EP 113: Tracking Coronavirus Symptoms: an erosion of privacy?
Prof Edwards took part in the Digital Asia Hub seminar series. Watch 'When the Music's Over' on 'Test, Trace, Isolate. And Legislate?'
Lilian gave evidence to the UK Parliament's Science and Technology Committee on 28 April 2020. The Committee discussed:
- how and when a digital contact tracing app could launch in the UK
- issues relating to privacy and how these could be overcome
You can read the transcript or watch it online on ParliamentLive.tv.
You can read more about the research in The Guardian and on the BBC News.
Wills and gifting property
The coronavirus pandemic will no doubt prompt many into writing, or rewriting, wills. The perception is that the prices charged by solicitors is high. Many can take the cheaper option of getting an online will.
has published a research briefing on Bargain Wills? The Rectification of Computer Generated Documents (PDF: 1.28MB).
It discusses how the courts have tended to interpret the law of rectification of wills flexibly. They may continue to do so in these novel circumstances. The explanation of the process of computer-generation of wills and application of it to the law will assist the litigator and advisor.
In his latest research, Dr Whayman has identified some problems with this route. He considers how the courts and legislators might respond to them. He published ‘The Rectification (and Construction) of Computer-Generated Documents’ (2019).
Sue Farran recently published 'A new lease of life for Donatio Mortis Causa in a time of Coronavirus?' (PDF: 555KB). Sue's article on this will be in Trusts and Trustees.
Human rights
Dr Conall Mallory has researched human rights law during the coronavirus outbreak.
Watch 'The State's Positive Obligations under International Human Rights Law during the coronavirus outbreak' 5th May 2020
'The Right to Life and Personal Protective Equipment' (UK Constitutional Law Association)
International borders
The UK and Ireland went into varying states of lockdown to combat the pandemic.
The Common Travel Area (CTA) and cross-border co-operation in Ireland came under renewed strain.
Colin Murray has published in The UK in a Changing Europe on the Covid-19 crisis across the Irish border.
COVID and our environment
Re-imagining environmental justice in post-pandemic Ireland
Dr Ciara Brennan is founder of the Environmental Justice Network Ireland. EJNI have asked individuals from a range of backgrounds to contribute their thoughts. They've made a series of short films on environmental justice in post-pandemic Ireland. They show the different ways people describe their experiences of environmental justice. They engage with the biggest questions decision-makers and society must contend with post-Covid. You can watch the videos online.
COVID and urban green spaces
Professor Chris Rodgers has published in the Environmental Law Review. His paper is 'Nourishing and Protecting our Urban “Green” Space in a post-pandemic world'.
