Overcoming the “social dilemma”: Problems of AI content curation and its alternatives Published: 13 January 2021 Introduction This article series explores possible alternatives to the internet’s current mechanisms and practices in content curation. By Lucia Siu
Covid-19 tracing apps may see renewed push under Joe Biden Published: 18 November 2020 Analysis US President-elect Joe Biden is preparing for a long-overdue national effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That may include facilitating and promoting widespread use of smartphone-based tracing apps that have been developed and distributed in a state-by-state patchwork. By Gopal Ratnam
Pan-European contact-tracing – a chance for more normality and freer movement Published: 16 November 2020 Commentary Most EU countries have worked out the kinks in their contact-tracing apps and now offer them as part of efforts to track coronavirus infection and break the chain of transmission. The next step is ensuring the apps can connect across borders. By Zora Siebert
Are fitness trackers the next answer to fight Covid-19? Published: 14 September 2020 Commentary As contact-tracing apps prove less useful than hoped in many countries, other digital tools such as wearable fitness trackers are gaining in popularity for detecting or tracing coronavirus infection. But a reliance on such technologies comes with big questions about effectiveness and privacy. By Deepika Yadav
How the pandemic strained the European Parliament’s digital infrastructure Published: 3 August 2020 Commentary The coronavirus lockdown caught the IT infrastructure of the European Parliament unprepared for such severe emergency conditions. The EU's parliamentary work comes with distinct political sensitivities and responsibilities for transparency that complicate the legislative process. Any measures taken to introduce digital tools now and in the future must safeguard vital democratic principles. By Eszter Bakó
Can a national ID database ease the burden of Covid-19 in the Philippines? Published: 29 July 2020 Analysis The pandemic has increased calls for a national ID system to improve access to relief funds. Experts say that the proposed plan may not work and may put data security and privacy at risk. By Jasmine Shewakramani
Brazil delays privacy law, uses Covid-19 for data grab Published: 8 July 2020 Commentary Federal, state, and city governments are working with technology companies to monitor citizens during the pandemic, with no guarantee of what will happen to the data after the crisis passes. The irony is that Brazil already has a law that would protect the right to privacy – but the government is trying to delay its implementation. By Flávia Lefèvre and Joyce Souza
How not to use tech in a pandemic - lessons from the UK Published: 30 June 2020 Commentary From legal challenges to delays, leaks and policy reversals, the UK has stumbled in its tech response to the pandemic in the same way that it has faltered in its overall strategy, even frequently being forced to change course. A full assessment of what happened will take time, but the record thus far already offers lessons for the future. By Frederike Kaltheuner
So it works, after all! Why I installed the German coronavirus tracing app Published: 29 June 2020 Commentary Open-source software, transparent communication, and public-private cooperation with both large and small companies—the development of the German contact tracing app could be a model for future government IT projects. By Malte Spitz
The bio-surveillance state: an emerging new normal in Asia Published: 17 June 2020 Analysis The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred the use of digital technologies that are shaping people's lives and interaction with society. The development of apps to monitor the movements and health status of individual citizens will have long-term implications for privacy and safety. Nowhere is this more visible than in Asia. By Dev Lewis