Information on social media monitoring for epidemic intelligence purposes

ECDC monitors social media for epidemic intelligence purposes. This is done by monitoring a list of predefined users using Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) and monitoring a list of predefined users on social media platforms. 

Details on why, how and under which basis ECDC conducts social media monitoring for epidemic intelligence purposes are available in this internal procedure.

ECDC is the data controller for the processing operation, and the legal basis stems from art. 5(1) of Regulation 2018/1725 in combination with art. 3 of Regulation 851/2004.

Any personal information processed by ECDC in this context comes from publicly available sources and it has been made public by the respective social media user. 

The personal data processed by ECDC consists in identity and affiliation of social media users monitored by ECDC. In the context of this processing activity, ECDC does not process any personal data of data subjects that are patients of a disease under surveillance. 

You are invited to check your social media account to check if ECDC is one of your followers. If you are a data subject, you have the right to request ECDC to access, rectify or erasure your personal data, as well as restricting and objecting to the processing, and to exercise your right to data portability. 

If you have questions on how your personal data is being processed, you can contact us at Epidemic Intelligence Group of ECDC at epidemic.intelligence@ecdc.europa.eu or the Data Protection Officer of ECDC at dpo@ecdc.europa.eu.   

If you think that your personal data is processed unlawfully, you can complain with the European Data Protection Supervisor.