Briefing Paper

Surveillance Technologies in the Covid-19 Era

While many states are adopting strict measures including containment and even border closures, some countries have used surveillance technologies to control the spread of the virus, and others are considering similar solutions. The most widespread device is the geolocation of smartphone data, digital tracing, cybersurveillance and facial recognition, the aim of which is to detect the movements of potentially contaminated people, warn populations likely to have been exposed to the virus, but also to control quarantines, track and locate infected individuals, as well as limit travel and try to curb the spread of the virus.