Combating COVID: One Bit at a Time
April 17th, 2020
Dear Reader,
The COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently led to a number of changes in the way our societies, economies, and polities work. One such major change is the rise, and increasing acceptance, of the surveillance state. It might seem like ages past, but just a few short weeks ago everyone was worried about the data collection practices of Big Tech and governments. Fast forward to the present however and a number of previous critics of these practices, such as Casey Newton, seem to have grudgingly accepted that it might infact be appropriate for governments to be a little nosey in these times. History tells us that it is perfectly natural for societies to give up more power to governments and rulers during times of emergency than they would otherwise be comfortable doing. However history also tells us that such power, once obtained, is very rarely given up voluntarily.
To tackle this once in a generation crisis, several national governments have turned to tech to keep a closer eye on their citizens. South Korea, Singapore, and Israel were relatively early adopters. And now India has joined the bandwagon with a new government-backed app- Aarogya Setu (Bridge of Health). The app uses GPS and Bluetooth to let Indian citizens know if they are in a ‘high-risk zone’ and if anyone in their immediate vicinity is infected. While of obvious immediate use, the question remains what will the government do with the app and the data it collects after the current crisis ends. Will it give it all up? Or will it find a way to integrate the app into the larger Digital India ecosystem and make it a permanent part of the Indian governance landscape? What of the current privacy and data protection implications of this app? The general opinion seems to be split about this. Some have argued that the app already shows significant privacy loopholes, whereas others have argued that this is not necessarily the case. For now, there seems to be no option but to wait and keep a wary eye on the government’s moves. Read on below for more detailed articles on this issue.
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Privacy in Times of COVID?
A number of technological innovations have sprung up in the past few weeks; most of them dedicated to combating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the sensitive nature of the data being used, there are a host of privacy concerns that need to be addressed. In an effort to ensure that privacy does not take a back seat and to inform meaningful public policy, the Internet Freedom Foundation has authored a comprehensive working paper on the use of health data, location-based surveillance technologies and contact-tracing through handheld devices.
Opening our Minds to Medical Innovation
One particular healthcare machine that’s been in the news recently seems to be critical in our fight against the virus — the ventilator. Countries all over the globe are worried about the disproportionate supply of these machines when compared to the expected spike in demand. Fortunately, the past few weeks have seen the virtual congregation of people from diverse walks of life with the purpose to rapidly innovate technologies for social good. In India, this has sparked multiple open-source projects to design and create affordable ventilators that adhere to strict standards and regulations. It’s time to collaborate and innovate.
Technically…What’s so Bad About Aarogya Setu?
Aaragya Setu has been the topic of choice during our dinner table conversations and TV news debates. Some have deemed it an absolute necessity during these strenuous times no matter the privacy cost. Others are worried that this might be a slippery slope that lands us in a future controlled via state surveillance. However, most of these conversations rarely include the voice of the engineers and scientists behind the app’s technological infrastructure. In this episode of ‘COVID-19 From The Frontlines’, BOOM’s Govindraj Ethiraj moderates an extremely informative discussion between Raman Jit Singh Chima, Senior Counsel at Access Now and Lalitesh Katragadda, founder of Indihood.
+ BOOMlive
Pills, Pills Everywhere, but Not a Drop of Immunity?
Beware of false promises! Influencers play a vital role in the age of social media and digital networks. They have the ability to spread awareness and help their followers navigate life in a healthy manner. Yet, with great power comes great responsibility. Amidst the glut of misinformation already being spread, a number of influencers are pushing “immunity-boosting” merchandise via their SM handles. The catch being that most of these do not have any scientific basis. So let’s be aware and stay safe.
Good Vibes from Unlikely Sources
In a time when altruism is (or should be) at its peak, India has gotten a significant donation from an unexpected benefactor. TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing social networking, has donated 100 Crores towards medical equipment in India. This includes 400,000 hazmat medical protective suits and masks and contributions to local and state-level medical practitioners.
