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The Real Story: Coronavirus: Is mass surveillance here to stay?

Factual

Coronavirus: Is mass surveillance here to stay?

01/05/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Coronavirus: Is mass surveillance here to stay?

Governments are deploying new technologies to fight coronavirus. But at what cost?

Governments are deploying new technologies to fight coronavirus. But at what cost to privacy?

Governments everywhere are increasing mass surveillance as part of efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Whether it’s a smartphone app that traces who you’ve been in contact with, public sensors that can tell if you’re running a temperature, or cameras equipped with facial recognition technology capable of instantaneously identifying you while walking down the street. In China, drones are being deployed to help police public spaces, while colour codes are used to determine who’s allowed out in public. So, is a loss of personal privacy that accompanies such measures a reasonable price to pay for recovery? A report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change concludes that it is. But critics are calling for a better debate before our societies become transformed. Ritula Shah and a panel of expert guests discuss whether we are entering an era where constant surveillance becomes the new normal. Are we giving up our privacy too readily? Or is this the only way to defeat a virus that's destroying lives and economies?

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