How Covid-19 is spurring civic tech in Senegal Commentary As citizens in Senegal come together to fight misinformation and support healthcare workers, more participation demands more accountability. By Mamadou Diagne
How to use data for the public interest, even – or especially – in a pandemic Commentary Governments, the private sector and other organizations increasingly collect massive amounts of data, some for the public good, other times not. A consistent framework could ensure data use is both beneficial to the public interest and sufficiently protected against misuse. By Aline Blankertz
Covid-19 tracing apps may see renewed push under Joe Biden 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 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
In the Philippines, distance learning reveals the digital divide Feature Forced to follow a “no vaccine, no classes” policy, the Philippines has implemented distance-learning programs that exacerbate existing inequalities. By Ana P. Santos
Are fitness trackers the next answer to fight Covid-19? 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
"It must be a plot!" – Coronavirus conspiracy theorists take to streets in Germany Commentary Conspiracy theories might seem funny in ordinary times. But against the backdrop of escalating far-right attacks worldwide in recent years and now the pandemic, these myths have spiraled into a dangerous pattern of radicalization. By Katharina Nocun
Why we need to rethink open data in Asia during Covid-19 Commentary In Asia, the pandemic has accelerated efforts to keep citizens informed through prompt and extensive data sharing. However, this new openness has also led to concerns regarding transparency, data protection, and democratic participation. By Benjamin Zhou
Social Media Platforms Need to Flatten the Curve of Dangerous Misinformation Commentary The rampant spread of Covid-19 conspiracies serves as a warning that our online information ecosystem can be weaponized well before platform administrators step in. To counter the deluge of viral disinformation, platforms should implement a circuit breaker mechanism to limit the exponential amplification of harmful content. By Ellen P. Goodman and Karen Kornbluh
