GOP lawmakers warn of the potential security risks of vaccine passports

HARTFORD — Republican lawmakers on Friday warned of potential security and other problems that could be associated with the new digital “passport” program being rolled out to allow businesses to confirm the vaccination status of customers and employees by simply scanning a code on their phones.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, in an airing of grievances during a morning news conference in the State Capitol, called for a public hearing on the electronic ID plan. Candelora also warned that while the digital identification program is voluntary, he and other GOP lawmakers are worried that it could become mandatory and lead to the denial of services, particularly in lower-income communities.

“We need to make no mistake,” Candelora said. “It’s voluntary for the businesses that choose to use it, but it’s going to become mandatory for the Connecticut residents that want to access those businesses. We could have situations where there are companies like a CVS — where this was rolled out the other day — could deny access to residents to get prescription drugs, to get goods and services, especially in communities that might be under-served by grocery stores, by pharmacies.”

The soft launch of the passport raised data-security concerns, particular contractual issues that could allow the vendor — Colorado-based Envision Technology Partners — to share patient information with other companies.

“They are reserving the right to share third-party data,” Candelora said Friday, backed by several other House members. He charged that legislative Democrats appear content with allowing this to unfold.

“What I want to know about, is that once that app is used, how is that person’s personal information, of consumer preferences of spending, being captured and are our residents’ privacy being protected?” Candelora said, stressing the need for a public hearing on the issue.

Candelora, R-North Branford, criticized Lamont for implementing statewide programs such as the vaccination ID, public school health-screening protocols and even Thursday’s executive order on climate resilience, without input from lawmakers, including majority Democrats in the General Assembly.

Max Reiss, Lamont’s spokesperson, showing his digital ID to reporters in the Capitol after Candelora’s news conference, dismissed even using the term passport to describe the tool to track information in the state system, which can be downloaded through the Department of Public Health’s website.

“This is just fear mongering and it’s frankly probably irresponsible because we’re talking about public health and it’s easier for me to have my record on my phone,” he said. “This is not a passport.” Reiss noted that it’s up to the General Assembly to schedule public hearings, not the governor.

In a copy of the contract with Envision Technology released by Lamont’s office Friday afternoon, the agreement says “protection of personal privacy and sensitive data shall be as integral part” of the deal and the company is required to “safeguard” it.

On Thursday, Lamont stressed that the digital ID is entirely voluntary. For

most of the year, people have used their paper records along with photo IDs to prove their vaccination status.

“I’m not requiring anything,” Lamont said. “I’m not mandating anything. I’m giving stores and restaurants and businesses one more tool they need to make their employees and their customers feel safe.”

While Envision Technology Partners allows for information to be shared with third parties, Lamont said Thursday he would prohibit that from happening in the program. “We’re not going to let that happen,” Lamont said.

Anthony McDonald, executive director of the landmark Shubert Theatre in New Haven, said he is eager to see if the state technology is compatible with his facility’s ticket-scanning system.

“If it works, it could help us to not have to look at a photo ID and vaccination card and then individual faces at a time when lot of people are coming into the building,” McDonald said in a phone interview. “Any kind of help the government can provide would be quite welcome. I look forward to seeing it.”

Candelora