Coronavirus – Covid-19: governments using location data to stem virus spead

How much surveillance is acceptable to stop the spread of a deadly virus? This France 24 report re-opens the debate:

Over 1,5 billion people worldwide are now under lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

With that comes increasing concerns about a potential abuse of power.

Leila Choukroune, professor at the University of Portsmouth, tells us more.

France 24 YouTube Channel

France 24 pointed out Russia’s use of 100,000 facial recognition cameras in an effort to prevent people from ignoring quarantine rules earlier this week.

In Britain, the Government sent an SMS text message to all citizens with a mobile telephone, telling them to “stay at home” despite having shelved plans for a nationwide alert system five years ago.

Certainly, when the dust settles on the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, some sense will need to be made of how far technology can and should be used to track data which is potentially life saving in future; and if it is worth the cost.


In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global national: jan. 19, 2024 | health data shows influenza, covid-19 cases decreasing in canada 1

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

In This Story: France

France is a republic and the largest Western European nation. Through expansion and colonisation in the 17th and 18th centuries France became a great power and still retains territories around the world. It has a seat on the UN security council and is the world’s fourth most wealthy country with a high standard of living and strong cultural identity.

6 Recent Items: France

Does it matter how young or old our politicians are?

Impact inflation, living costs have on birth rates and Canadians on parental leave

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Tempers FLARE: SLY France ‘could SOLVE illegal immigration in a heartbeat’

Uganda, Gaza, Syria, Red Sea, & other topics – Daily Briefing (18 January 2024) | United Nations

Israel-Gaza: Aid package delivered to people in Gaza | BBC News

In This Story: Russia

Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the south.

Russia spans more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area, stretching eleven time zones, and bordering 16 sovereign nations. Moscow is the country’s capital.

The Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 and since 1993 Russia been governed as a federal semi-presidential republic. Russia is a major great power, with the world’s second-most powerful military, and the fourth-highest military expenditure. As a recognised nuclear-weapon state, the country possesses the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.

3 Recent Items: Russia

Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon

North Korea and the new Cold War | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Why are Russians risking years in prison to protest? | DW News

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