The world was shocked when Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed into a remote part of the French Alps last month, killing all 150 people onboard. The authorities strived to work out why the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately crashed the plane. The British daily, The Telegraph, reported that Lubitz was suffering from severe depression. The airline was not aware of his mental illness due to Germany's privacy laws, which prevent employers from collecting medical records from their employees. The tragedy stoked a fierce debate on whether regulations on medical confidentiality should be eased for sensitive jobs. We discuss the extent of privacy protection in the modern information era with our 'Newstellers'.
