Freedom or covid19; must we choose?

Culture Matters

“There is no doubt that the governments and people of this region must continue to see this pandemic as an existential threat to Caribbean civilisation.”

– Prof Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies

PROF BECKLES draws attention to the fact that not only will the coronavirus severely affect Caribbean economies, but it will challenge our very understanding of who we are as human beings. As we rely on technology and the collection of data to manage this global pandemic, are we also now bearing witness to a subtle erosion of civil liberties?

Certainly, the world needs this health crisis to be brought under control. In the creative sector, perhaps we understand more than most the meaning of existential threats.

As Lutalo Masimba, head of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) and others have pointed out, the livelihoods of artists have been virtually decimated by the closure of all the outlets for our creativity. Further, long-term physical distancing rules for performance spaces will unquestionably continue the economic toll on our industry.

In response, many have turned to the digital space. Artists have gone online to showcase their talents, therapists are connecting with patients using popular video software and collection of data has become essential to treat with the health crisis.

However, with the sharp increase of online use for everything from education to food, artistic expression and personal relationships, are we asking the right questions about the social impacts of increased reliance on data? In the interests of public health, do we envision a future where we relinquish control of how our information is used?

In TT, we already face inequities with access to online services. How will these be addressed as Caribbean nations attempt to keep pace with the changes that a more digitally focused world will bring?

As one Forbes commentator writes, it is “certainly important to contain the spread of covid19. But once governments gain new powers, they don’t always give them back.” Surprisingly, according to the Covid19 Civil Freedom Tracker, some 84 countries have issued emergency declarations due to the pandemic.

Globally, it is becoming more common for drones, smartphone apps and facial recognition to be used for monitoring human behaviour regarding covid19. Indeed, in 2019, computers in the Canadian company Blue Dot detected “27 cases of a mysterious flu-like disease in Wuhan” and that people had already been hospitalised.”

Blue Dot was able to access what they call “anonymised location data from millions of cell phones,” which allowed them to follow and even predict the spread of the disease into cities around the world; blue dots meant adequate social distance, red signified possible danger.

Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS in 2003, the issue of poor global data in managing public health crises continues to resurface. As recently as September last year, an online journal wrote about the need for the world to better use information to “improve epidemic management, save lives, and reduce the economic impact of outbreaks.”

In TT, even though our infection numbers are relatively low, local experts agree that it is crucial for us to aggressively test and collate data to develop a full picture of exactly how many people are infected, and the resources that will be required to mitigate long-term economic impacts.

In reality, the issue of data as it relates to developing countries is a complicated and sometimes contentious one.

Decades ago, Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations, was quoted as saying, “Data gaps undermine our ability to target resources, develop policies and track accountability. Without good data, we’re flying blind. If you can’t see it, you can’t solve it.”

At the time he was speaking of the need to use technology in the fight against poverty, disease and high child mortality rates in Africa.

While the value of structured information is undeniable, since developing nations rarely own or design the technologies that drive the world, this often creates related imbalances. As we have seen in TT, now that school learning material is primarily online, large numbers of children have been left without access to information.

As our reliance on the virtual space for survival grows, we will increasingly be faced with this question: Would you sacrifice your privacy or freedom in the interest of public health? It is an existential question that is already impacting our Caribbean civilisation, but first we must decide whether we will allow it to affect us as human beings.

Dara E Healy is a performance artist, communications specialist and founder of the NGO, the Indigenous Creative Arts Network – ICAN

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"Freedom or covid19; must we choose?"

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