A patchwork of state and federal laws cover the surveillance of private conversation. But, in all cases, there is a “public interest” defence.
Body cameras are increasingly being worn by police forces, like the Vancouver Police Department, to record officer interactions.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Police forces across the country now have access to surveillance technologies that were recently available only to national intelligence services. The digitization of bias and abuse of power followed.
A new approach to supporting victims of domestic violence and child maltreatment.
A robot dog called Spot patrols a Singapore park playing a recorded message telling people to observe physical distancing measures.
Edgar Su/Reuters/AAP
Smart city solutions have proved handy for curbing the contagion, but recent experience has also shown how much they rely on public trust. And that in turn depends on transparency and robust safeguards
Contact tracing is being touted as essential to controlling the spread of COVID-19, but it comes with alarming concerns related to our rights to privacy.
By using technology to curb the spread of COVID-19, governments undertake the risky venture of undermining human rights.
(Shutterstock)
As governments consider the use of surveillance technologies to trace and contain the spread of COVID-19, it is important to consider human rights in the implementation.
The Australian National University is turning to digital proctoring to replace the role of a walking invigilator. But who watches the proctor, what are the risks, and what data will be collected?
Providing the relevant safeguards are in place, there should be no particular threat to Australians’ privacy.
At a deserted Federation Square in Melbourne, the big screen broadcasts this message: ‘If you can see this, what are you doing? Go home.’
Cassie Zervos/Twitter
Current restrictions remind us of the value of access to public space and one another. Yet even before COVID-19 some people were excluded and targeted, so a return to the status quo isn’t good enough.
Digital footprints.
Prasit photo/Moment via Getty Images
Cellphone data can show who coronavirus patients interacted with, which can help isolate infected people before they feel ill. But how digital contact tracing is implemented matters.
All Women Militarized Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
Instead of seeking to protect our health and stop the coronavirus epidemic by instituting totalitarian surveillance regimes, we should rather focus on empowering citizens.
Our mobile phone’s location data could be a valuable tool to help track and trace the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The government has the legal power to do it, given what’s at stake.