NEW DELHI: Digital rights activists have raised concerns over details of Covid-19 quarantined people being shared on social media platforms, calling it a breach of privacy. Over the last week several lists, allegedly containing names and addresses of coronavirus patients from abroad, were anonymously made public on WhatsApp The Karnataka government even made such a list available on a public website and announced the measure on Twitter. It later deleted the tweet, but the list is still visible on its website. In Delhi, a list was anonymously circulated online with details of 722 people. A similar list was made available on WhatsApp in Gurgaon."The country is facing an extraordinary situation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. In such a scenario, it is often necessary to provide information to people regarding the pandemic and chances of infection from persons infected. However, while providing such information care should be taken to ensure that the privacy of patients is not violated," said SFLC legal director Prasanth Sugathan.He added that publishing of names and other personally identifiable information of patients would be a violation of their privacy and will have far reaching consequences that go beyond the period of the pandemic. "Such information could be a treasure trove for cyber criminals to commit identity theft," Suganathan said.Suggesting that there can be a way to safeguard privacy while ensuring safety of people, Suganathan added that "persons in direct contact with the patients can be contacted directly instead of publishing information on social media channels."Taking cognisance of these lists, advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation said that such a disclosure has led to acute ostracisation of some patients. “Some people have been asked to vacate their houses. Their caregivers and relatives have been targeted," said IFF executive director Apar Gupta.Technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary also suggested while there can't be "the same level of personal health privacy during public health emergencies involving infectious diseases as we do in other times and other aspects of our health” publishing names does not help the general public in any way and was broad and unwarranted."The principle has to be to collect and use the least amount of data possible, because it reduces harm and use it specifically for public health purposes... Publishing names doesn't help the public. Quarantining those who were identified helps," she added.