New guide on citizen science and force majeure

The COVID-19 pandemic forced nationwide lockdowns to prevent the spread of the disease. During the implementation of a project funded under the EU Horizon 2020 theme “Science with and for Society”, mobility restrictions and assembly bans in the partner countries significantly affected the organization and implementation of the many planned face-to-face activities. The subject of the project was the investigation of compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation through the extent of online tracking in websites and apps.

The case study is relevant not only because of the likelihood of another pandemic in less than a hundred years, but also because it sheds light on the data protection and privacy issues raised by the tightened regulations in the EU Digital Services Act.

A key issue is the management of civic engagement during a force majeure - this needs to be carefully planned to avoid losing valuable time. The article serves as a guide for action in the event of another virus-enforced stay-at-home order. It presents the necessary adaptations that the international citizen science project had to make during the pandemic.

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