Originally published at: https://tidbits.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-tracking-in-todays-surveillance-society/
Location tracking, facial recognition, and app-based tracking have become tools in fighting the spread of the SARS-COV 2 coronavirus. But will these uses start a conversation about how to safeguard personal privacy or result in it being further exploited?
I have half-jokingly suggested that there should be an app that records all iPhones that have been within 1 metre of that iPhone in the past 48 hours. I guess, in theory, Google/Facebok already has this info for Android phones.
And as the New York Times report I linked to last year shows, independent location tracking companies have this information for iPhone users too, thanks to third-party apps people use and grant location access.
There’s an article in Science now that suggests app-based digital contact tracking.