Surveillance After COVID-19: Will It Really Subside?
As cases of coronavirus surge, governments around the world are stepping up digital surveillance of their citizens to help track the outbreak.
Authorities are using techniques such as facial recognition, phone tracking and artificial intelligence to monitor potential patients, while others are cracking down on online speech on the subject of the virus.
While some of these measures may be proportionate and necessary to stopping the spread of COVID-19, do others breach your digital rights? And what will happen to these enhanced powers once the outbreak is over?
HOT TAKE
I’m going to say the answer is a big no. FYI — $500 million of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package has been set aside for a new surveillance system that will be used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and perhaps other government agencies. I agree with Snowden that the government will excuse the continued use of this system after this is all over in its efforts to combat terrorism.
