Tracking Everyone’s Whereabouts Won’t Stop COVID-19
Countries such as China, South Korea, and Israel have already turned to invasive surveillance tools to halt the spread of the coronavirus. But their efficacy is unclear.
By Albert Fox Cahn and Alyssa Domino
As countries around the world scramble to fight off the public health nightmare of the COVID-19 pandemic, more are looking to a surprising medicine: surveillance.
Following China, Taiwan, and South Korea’s success in bending the curve of infection, commentators and surveillance vendors are urging governments in the U.S. to replicate their use of invasive surveillance tools, even when it’s unclear whether this technology is actually effective at fighting the coronavirus. Rather than simply accepting tracking with open arms, Americans should be wary of geeks bearing gifts. Today’s startups could do more than squander venture capital dollars — their misguided COVID-19 surveillance measures may cost lives and undermine our democracy.
Widespread surveillance has yet to be implemented across the U.S., but it has become a common pandemic-fighting tool elsewhere. In China, individuals receive a color-coded health rating: green, yellow, or red. While the details of how the…
