COVID-19 surprised us and empowered technology to be its own master

1. Introduction

The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the world (Gate 2020), leaving governments and institutions helpless and unable to provide the right countermeasures. This is happening even as new technological and industrial tools are transforming societies around the world. For example, Lucas Lengacher explains that instant communication on our phones blocks off the ways we think to communicate around us; “we see silent tables at the café, quiet train commutes, and expressionless faces on walks” (Lengacher 2015). There seems to be “a disconnect with all this connection” (Tuck 2014).

Although new technologies have been steadily gaining ground for some decades, national and transnational organizations have, for the most part, succeeded in regulating such advancements, which have allowed information to break down barriers and cross borders (Wiener 2004). Naturally, regulatory efforts have focused, among others, on protecting privacy, personal data use, secure communication and information transfers, as well as keeping commercial activities under control and within the national interest (Sarikakis 2017). Most digital processes fall under national jurisdictions, although the current trend is to migrate more and more towards non-governed digital spaces. It is clear that the COVID-19 outbreak will only accelerate this trend and more permanently merge our technological and social platforms at the risk of forging greater inequalities. This is merely one adverse effect among others that new technologies may present as a response to the pandemic and in post-pandemic societies.

Of course, conversely, technology allows for or facilitates a multitude of activities in communities facing lockdowns or social distancing measures across the world. Among others, higher education can continue in modified ways thanks to virtual teaching. That being said, many countries are concerned about threats to essential infrastructures, such as the traditional face-to-face education system.

In this work, we discuss the risks and opportunities presented by technology deployment during the pandemic and beyond. The remainder of the article is organized as follows: Section 2 exposes our methodology; Section 3 discusses the historical relationship between pandemics and technologies; Section 4 addresses the role of the university in the present context and asks whether it is the ideal place to test new technologies; Section 5 enumerates some of the risks inherent to the central positioning of technology during and after the pandemic; Section 6 explores the opportunities linked to novel technological advancements; finally, Section 7 concludes this work.

2. Methodology

One of the most critical issues facing researchers from all countries today is how to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak while ensuring a partial functioning of the economy and social institutions, using information technology. Several countries and companies claim that they use new technologies in a controlled way and that everything is under control.

Our methodology consists in

• considering the issues related to the use of information technology from the different perspectives or views, including jurisdictional aspects,

• analyzing the possible risks and opportunities for deploying these technologies based on recent actual experiences, and

• providing recommendations based on our analysis.

The researchers argue for using the information technology perspective in the university environment for handling the issue, and specifically analyzes the possible risks and opportunities for deploying such technology perspective.

3. Technology at the service of humanity during pandemics

The relationship between pandemics (viral or otherwise) and technologies is not new. More than a century ago, in the midst of the Spanish Flu, isolation was also practiced to escape and minimize the contagion (Taubenberger and Morens 2006). At the time, the telephone was still in its infancy, but the United States — already more advanced in the installation of the telephone network – rushed to further develop such a network to enable citizens to maintain daily relationships and engage in economic activities. The Spanish Flu further brought to light the growing interest in communication technology, which has since only flourished. The advancement of radio communication has been crucial for the military and then social development of nations. Although the walkie-talkie was developed and marketed during the Second World War as a warfare instrument, its use has since extended to public safety, industrial and commercial purposes.

Now, a century later, post-modern societies are facing a new viral pandemic with wired and wireless communication technologies, which are essentially sophisticated improvements of the telephone network. Moreover, artificial intelligence and other related technologies (sensors, robotics, cloud computing, virtual reality, etc.) have opened the door to automation and the robotization of entire work sectors.

4. Higher education

Universities have long since been hotspots for technological innovation. Brimming with experienced and young intellectuals, such institutions have contributed immensely to the development and experimentation of novel technology. Consider for example the role of Quebec universities in the then tentative social implementation of Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Provincial authorities had hesitated to invest in the installation of ATMs in public spaces, fearing that such an introduction would be ultimately rejected by the population who would be apprehensive of handling money through non-human contact. To put this sociological hypothesis to the test, ATMs were installed across university campuses in Quebec to observe student response (Desjardins 2017). Since the response was overwhelmingly positive, Canadian banks (Caisses Populaires Desjardins in particular) used this database to push for the widespread implementation of ATMs across the country.

In this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, universities have learnt to quickly adapt to lockdown and social distancing orders. In countries where the Internet is widely accessible and affordable, postsecondary institutions have continued to operate through the use of online learning. Alas, this is not ideal in secondary schools, even less in primary schools, where practical learning is imperative. This renders the university the optimal space to conduct pilot projects and test novel technologies. After all, university students reflect a part of society that adapts more easily to changing circumstances and demonstrates less resistance to social and technological novelty.

5. Potential risks of mass technological reliance during the pandemic

5.1. Risk 1: non-governed technologies

As mentioned above, governments and communities relying on new technologies have tried to regulate them and keep them within their supervision to protect privacy and personal data, ensure secure communication and information transfers, and maintain commercial activities under control and within the national interest. The urgency inherent in this unexpected pandemic however has left governments overwhelmed and hence lacking in these departments. Given the escalating infection and fatality rates, governments must focus on the now — how to tackle the virus on the medical front and salvage the economy. The potentially long-term adverse effects of unregulated technologies are unfortunately seen as secondary. Some may argue that spontaneous orders or laissez-faire market solutions are most apt for addressing global crises such as the present one. Eventually, as the situation stabilizes and the world exits the “emergency” stage, necessary rectifications and adjustments can be made. But we must be wary of the dangerous optimism of spontaneous order. Future generations must not be condemned to bear the brunt of previous generations’ recklessness. Rectifications and social calibration may not always be possible. Sometimes, it is simply too late to remedy the resulting social or economic ills. Moreover, we must be careful to assume that this pandemic will not persist for a considerable time. As of yet, very little is known about the virus’ mutative patterns, the possibility for immunity among each demographic and the quality and duration of such immunity, if it exists.

5.2. Risk 2: social inequality

Access to digital technologies plays a crucial role in widening social gaps. Increased reliance on technology in everyday activities will only further aggravate this inequality. Equitable access to education has been a foremost concern during this pandemic. Parents do not have the same financial capabilities to provide equal educational conditions to their children. Many students relied on the physical university space as a means of accessing professional and scientific tools. In addition, not all citizens’ educational needs can be met through remote learning. Similarly, many professionals may not be equipped for teleworking. Problematically, this may only exacerbate the existing social disparity by forcing such workers to find or pursue on-site employment at the risk of their health and for non-competitive salaries. Moreover, big businesses capable of adapting to telework are likely to overwhelm smaller businesses that cannot afford the necessary technology, especially in the face of a dwindling client-base. In a country without a robust infrastructure guaranteeing equitable access to the Internet, multilayered socioeconomic challenges are bound to arise as essential public goods become a luxury accessible to the wealthier classes only.

5.3. Risk 3: privacy and personal data

Privacy, protection of personal data, including biological and genetic data and livelihood, will all need to be guaranteed by technology. This is not currently possible even in the most affluent and developed countries. Major innovations will likely be driven by tech companies looking to capitalize on the presently necessary virtualization of social interactions and economic activities. Audio and video conferencing systems, for example, have become essential technologies that allow governments and businesses to operate reasonably even when social distancing is practiced.

To better monitor the outbreak of the virus, some governments have adopted tools to track compliance with quarantine, curfews and social distancing orders on those who may serve as a potential source of propagation of the virus. Given the intensive debates and evolving attitudes towards privacy, confidentiality and data protection in relation to public health and social responsibility, legislators’ stances on such issues are likely to shift considerably in the coming months. Regardless, it is clear that the most significant structural changes will concern the form and format of the relationship between new technologies and society.

The data sharing practices that tech companies, health care facilities and governments have adopted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic are not sufficiently controlled. This trend may bear permanent effects. Will data generated by the fusion of our genetic and biological world with the digital world be used beyond the fight against COVID-19? New technologies were already developing rapidly before the surprise of the viral pandemic. Debate surrounding privacy with respect to biological and genetic data is not new. The practices relating to genetic privacy and the ways such data is managed are of nature to present serious threats to our fundamental civil rights.

5.4. Risk 4: security and national interest

Relatedly, the safety and integrity of the cyber domain should also weigh heavily on our minds. Minor cyber incidents have already occurred. While these do not constitute systemic threats to national security, they may considerably affect the financial and social lives of individuals. Increases in pandemic-related telemedicine frauds, phishing scams and attacks on medical databases must not be taken lightly. Of course, the pandemic did not create profit-oriented dishonesty, but it should not provide ideal conditions for its success either.

5.5. Risk 5: social influence

The early 2000s marked the emergence of social networks. Facebook was launched in 2003, followed by Twitter in 2006, while YouTube began operating only a year prior. In 2000, Google began imposing itself by becoming Yahoo’s default search engine. Social networking only continues to gain ground. The Pew Research Center reports that in 2015, 90% of Americans aged between 18 and 29 use social networks – a 750% increase from 2005s 12% figure (Perrin 2015). A similar phenomenon can be noted in Europe. In 2013, Seybert and Reinecke reported that 89% of Europeans aged 16 and 24 use a social media platform (Seybert and Reinecke 2013). The tendency during the previous decade was to place great optimism in the emancipatory potential of these emerging technologies, even though early perturbing social effects were apparent.

This trend, however, left users and small competitors largely unprotected. In the last decade, these social media giants have enjoyed their fair share of scandals, lawsuits and sanctions. In 2012, the European Commission called for a reform of European Union data protection rules. This jurisdictional initiative aims at enabling citizens to regain control over their personal data (European Commission 2015). Anti-competitive rules have been more strictly enforced. For its anti-competitive practices, Google has accumulated 8.25 billion euros in sanctions from the European Commissioner for Competition since November 2014 (Reuters 2018). Investigations by the European Union have been carried out against Amazon and Facebook as well, raising concerns about virtual confidentiality in general. Although such investigations and sanctions may signal a move away from laissez-faire markets, this progress may decline under the pretext of the pandemic.

The mediatization of these legal scandals has incited questions about the social effects of social platforms. But now that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased our reliance on existing and new technological players, our social and cultural life may fall at the complete mercy of such corporations.

5.6. Risk 6: infodemia and infox

The COVID-19 pandemic coincides with an information pandemic, baptized “infodemia” by the World Health Organization (WHO). A significant part of this continuous stream of information is “infox,” that is, decontextualized information, which is not validated by a credible institution and is most frequently disseminated through social networks, blogs and news websites, often in the form of short videos or images sometimes accompanied by text.

In African countries, as elsewhere, measures have been taken to identify false news in order to publicly refute and correct it. But to ensure that information is accurate and reliable, a large volume of data must be processed and contextualized. This is one of the objectives of the CORAF (Coronavirus Africa) research project of the West African Network Anthropology of Emerging Epidemics in cooperation with Sonar-Global, which is currently in its exploratory phase in Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea (Desclaux 2020).

5.7. Risk 7: political influence

In March 2020, Twitter deleted two posts, in the form of videos, showing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro denying the need to take strong measures against the pandemic and defending the claim that Brazil has found an effective drug against COVID-19. In doing so, the platform has taken a clear political stance, in this case against President Bolsonaro’s heavily contested narrative. But should technology have the authority to censor the claims of the highest executive authority of a country or anyone at all? And if yes, how do we properly delineate the line where public interest must trump over individual free speech? More importantly, should this initiative be undertaken by private corporations, such as Twitter, or be left in the hands of legislators? It must be acknowledged that Twitter’s concerns are not unfounded. Much debate persists over the role of social media in inciting hate crimes, increasing social fragmentation and influencing political outcomes. In addition to mishandling over 50 million Facebook users’ personal data (Cabouret 2018), the British communication company Cambridge Analytica has also been accused of taking a partisan position during the Brexit campaign. Former employee and whistleblower Christopher Wylie declared that “Brexit wouldn’t have happened without Cambridge Analytica” (Guimon 2018). For its part, Cambridge Analytica acknowledges that it has affected about a hundred electoral campaigns in five continents. The company was notably involved in the 2017 Kenyan presidential elections and the 2015 Nigerian presidential elections (Cabouret 2018). If this trend is left unattended, political influence is expected to increase during and after the pandemic.

5.8. Risk 8: false information and censorship

While untrue information may constitute fraud or misleading representation, false or dubious opinions constitute a far grayer zone. For example, one may genuinely believe that COVID-19 is not dangerous, and yet to propagate such an opinion may lead to drastic results. When this information is relied upon, consequences may be serious or even fatal. However, given the urgency of the situation, emerging censorship regimes are likely to err on the side of caution at the expense of opinions and thoughts meant to provoke social debate. As legislators are likely to mandate that public platforms not serve as hotspots for false information, much hinges on the proper definition of falseness and this is no easy task. For countries where democracy is threatened or extinct, censorship in the name of COVID-19 management may be used to advance ulterior political motives, namely the silencing and elimination of political opposition.

5.9. Risk 9: imposing a singular social model

There are no two identical societies. Variations in moral values, culture, tradition and economic attitudes are an enriching and inalienable guarantee of social life. However, the digitization of our world risks forging a singular global society. Uncontrolled and rapid digitization, under the pretext of fighting pandemics, introduces technological standards that may alter our social lives, remodel our business operations and impose everyday policies that are not necessarily in tune with the unique cultural and social needs of various social constituents.

Concerns surrounding the normalization of particular values are also relevant. In April 2000, the United Nations entered into a partnership with Tencent, a tech giant based in China, a state with a dubious human rights record and a long history of data privacy breaches (Tencent 2020). The UN will use the international version of Tencent Meeting, VooV Meeting, with WeChat Work and Tencent Artificial Intelligence Simultaneous Interpretation to host “thousands of online conversations” (Barbaschow 2020). Under pressure from human rights groups and member states, the United Nations is allegedly reviewing this decision (Saran 2020). The normalization of partnerships with autocratic countries may normalize tolerance of human rights violations among the international community.

6. Opportunities through the increased use of technology during the pandemic

6.1. Opportunity 1: administrative practices reforms

Policy makers may seize the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to reform political and administrative practices that were previously burdened by institutional constraints. Perhaps the most obvious example is the accelerated adoption of what the United Nations calls “digital public goods” (Karopka 2019). These goods are defined as “tools that serve to educate us, help us thrive in our professional lives, enrich our cultural experiences, and ultimately do good for the benefit of humankind,” such as information, education, healthcare and finance among others (Karopka 2019). These are common digital railways that act as force multipliers for a range of business and government operations. There is an opportunity today to reinforce this line of innovation.

6.2. Opportunity 2: efficient digital identifier

India’s digital ID system helped this developing country overcome the pandemic by providing cash transfers and digital payments for a range of essential goods. The demand for similar infrastructures has increased worldwide. Singapore had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian government – which precedes the COVID-19 pandemic – to develop a similar system. Google referenced the system in its appeal to the Federal Reserve to adopt similar innovations in the United States. These trends may see universal reinforcement soon.

6.3. Opportunity 3: universal basic income

The pandemic may serve as a stepping stone towards the adoption of a universal basic income (UBI) in many jurisdictions, especially given the shrinking workforce during regional lockdown and confinement. Social safety nets must take into account informal and “gig economy” workers and those unable to convert their businesses virtually. The absence of such protections has put this vulnerable population in danger and has forced many to continue to work in unsafe environments. There is increasing pressure from human rights organizations to bring about these political reforms as soon as possible. More importantly, given our complete unpreparedness for such a pandemic, experimenting with UBI now will better equip us for the economic impacts of future world crises. UBI has long since been confined to the pages of philosophy books, but as the already overwhelmed welfare states failed to address the massive wave of unemployment brought about by the viral outbreak, it is time to consider more proactive tools that take into account the vulnerability of manual work in the wake of automation and instability. Moreover, even temporal emergency funds are not free of costly administrative hassles, that is, the monitoring of an applicant’s eligibility and status. As witnessed in current welfare systems, these intrusive and paternalistic tools only increase social stigma and impede social mobility.

6.4. Opportunity 4: sharing sporadic information

Engineers and designers from Urbicum in Poland launched the VentilAid project, an initiative to design an open source ventilator that can be reproduced by using a 3D printer and by assembling basic and easily accessible components (Boissonneault 2020). The open source ventilator is designed to help healthcare professionals fight against the viral pandemic in cases where traditional hospital resources are limited or depleted. This example illustrates the importance of sporadic information sharing for governments and individuals to achieve a truly global digital society. As governments and communities continue to share sporadic information on best practices and products, we must ensure that such information is accessible to all citizens rather than select socioeconomic groups. If adequate efforts are not made to address existing poverty and technological deficiencies in lower socioeconomic communities, such initiatives may produce the countereffect of further “luxurizing” health and safety.

6.5. Opportunity 5: sharing aggregated anonymized data

Google is sharing the location data of its Canadian users to assist politicians and public health officials in their actions against the viral pandemic. On April 3 2020, the tech giant declared that it would start publishing regular reports on the movements of its users in different regions of Canada (O’Brien 2020). Dr Karen DeSalvo, chief health officer for Google Health and Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vice-president for Google Geo stated that

in Google Maps, we use aggregated, anonymized data showing how busy certain types of places are — helping identify when a local business tends to be the most crowded. We have heard from public health officials that this same type of aggregated, anonymized data could be helpful as they make critical decisions to combat COVID-19. (O’Brien 2020)

While no doubt an interesting opportunity, location sharing must be balanced with citizen’s privacy rights.

6.6. Opportunity 6: integrating the social dimension

While technology may allow for virtual communication, it has yet to adequately compensate for the benefits of physical interactions. Humans are social creatures; physical interactions may constitute an important contributor to the quality of their life and their mental well-being. Can technology integrate the social dimension into online communication, at least partially?

Humans communicate with each other by doing spontaneous, random or premediated actions and reactions that reflect their personality. This includes frowning, smiling, nodding, trembling, making jokes, expressing sympathy, showing fear or distaste, etc. While virtual communication satisfies this visual component, its two-dimensionality leaves much to be desired on the emotional front. It is unlikely that an online school lunchbreak can forge an environment comparable to an authentic recreational break. This affects the way students forge bonds and friendships and may adversely affect their emotional wellbeing. Hence, further research in Augmented Virtual Reality, smart sensors and enhanced virtual experience is crucial to ensure that such technology serves the most natural social life. We cannot afford to see this viral pandemic, or possibly future ones, worsen the already grave global mental health crisis.

6.7. Opportunity 7: sustainable development of smart green cities

Currently, administrative offices still occupy vast spaces in the city, although a large part of administrative activities are performed digitally. Traditionally, administrative offices are operational during the day only, whereas the opposite is true of domestic buildings, which record a smaller consumption during the day (when parents are at work and children are at school) in comparison to the afternoon and evening. This begs the question of whether administrative spaces, like universities, can be reduced to green spaces through sustainable technology. Given the environmental concerns that loom large over this planet, this is a question that must be taken seriously. The impacts of mass teleworking are still under study, but if they prove to be both professionally efficient and largely environmentally-friendly, then an important lesson can be extracted from this pandemic.

6.8. Opportunity 8: provide services to poor or marginalized areas

Rural zones in developed and developing countries alike, especially geographically isolated regions, often suffer from inadequate infrastructure. Is there a way for online technologies to provide services to these needy zones? Of course, this question presupposes that Internet facilities are installed in such regions. Given the primordiality of access to information and essential services, such as emergency care, human and civil rights, it is wholly indefensible that some regions be barred from Internet infrastructures. Access to the Internet can offer continuous, temporary or targeted education to residents in these zones, addressing high illiteracy and unemployability rates. Broadband communication (high-speed internet) is also necessary to ensure efficient and quick services, especially when questions of health or crime are involved. Internet may be “communalized” through the router of the village municipality, the nearby police station, the nearest hospital, etc., provided that access to the Internet is not protected. In the event of a flood, earthquake, hurricane, war or epidemic, previously prosperous areas may be devastated as to render their standard of living significantly low. Is there a way for online technologies to provide services to these afflicted areas? Where governmental services are no longer on site, can drones be deployed for communication or mobile terminals? These are important questions that must be researched so as to not only address current crises, but also prepare for coming ones.

7. Conclusion

For the past century, technologies have been at the service of humanity during a number of crises. But technology is a double-edged sword: in the absence of sensible and goal-oriented regulations, it can lead us into the unknown. We have listed a number of risks inherent to the saturated deployment of technologies during pandemics without the corresponding regulatory or monitoring policies. On the other hand, technology presents openings for equitable and sustainable social development, provided that the necessary corresponding measures are taken as well.

In a closed-off world, the university remains the ideal place to test new technologies and to conduct pilot projects. Indeed, this institution is home to experienced and young intellectuals full of ambition, courage and open-mindedness. Within universities and research centers, the social, cultural, economic and security effects of technologies must be studied.

We recommend using the information technology perspective in the university environment for handling the issue, and specifically analyzed the possible risks and opportunities for deploying such technology perspective. We also recommend that the corresponding jurisdiction must also monitor the implementation of technologies in society for universal values-oriented sustainable development.

Through this perspective, we plan to investigate the impact of new technologies on post-pandemic local cultures and social models of minorities, in Brazil and Yemen. We also intend to propose recommendations to preserve these cultures and social models.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the financial support of the global project [grant number RGPIN-2017-05096]. This granting agency did not contribute to the design of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author thanks the Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the financial support of the global project [grant number RGPIN-2017-05096].