Tech and Covid-19

Global perspectives on digital trends during the crisis

In South Korea, pandemic data transparency comes at a high cost

Efforts to follow social distancing and mask-wearing rules have been crucial to South Korea’s success in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, but experts worry that other measures—such as sharing data from confirmed cases—have stigmatised and harmed marginalised communities.

By Dahye Yim and Christoph Mayer

Is Covid-19 the challenge health tech was waiting for?

Feature

The global pandemic became a linchpin for many health-tech startup companies that were struggling to find their purpose. In 2020, the industry saw record funding and attention – and the need to balance investor’s expectations with public health concerns.

By Srividya Kalyanaraman

About

This series is a co-production of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Hong Kong, and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC with the support of other global offices. The content is published on the websites of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung offices around the world.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. or any of its global offices.

WATCH AND LISTEN

Böll perspectives on contact tracing technology from around the world

#TechCovid19 Online Discussion: Covid-19 and Contact Tracing Apps in the US, EU & Asia

Our Voices, Our Choices Podcast: Feminist Digital Disruption during Covid-19

#TechCovid19 Online Discussion: Countering the Coronavirus Infodemic

#TechCovid19 Online Discussion: Data for public good in time of pandemic

Tecnopolítica Podcast #35: Contact tracing apps facing Covid-19

Digital Democracy

Societal risks depend strongly on the context of data and the situations in which the information is used.

Digital Economy

Why local digital solutions in DR Congo remain overlooked

Feature

An economically demanding and foreign-dominated digital market, along with a lack of political will and trust, make it harder for local digital entrepreneurs to succeed in DR Congo.

Air Quality Measuring Station in Hamburg

Second bytes: How to re-use data for the common good

Media Fellowship

Zettabytes of data are being accumulated worldwide every year and could be applied towards improving public health and the environment. But instead the majority is unused – and there are still numerous hurdles for sharing and donating it

By Marc Winkelmann

Pandemic strengthens China’s platforms as infrastructure providers

Analysis

From rural live-streaming to coordinating medical care, technology platforms in China have taken on a central role during the Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic accelerated trends that further cement these companies as key infrastructure providers working in close tandem with the state – but this cozy relationship comes at a cost to many.

By Dev Lewis

How the pandemic kickstarted a health tech renaissance in Nigeria

Feature

Covid-19 has accelerated innovation in the Nigerian health tech sector, providing opportunities for growth in an industry that has typically lacked investment, government endorsement, and attention.

By Ayodeji Rotinwa

Profiteering from the pandemic: How India’s lockdown paved the way for big e-commerce disaster capitalism

Commentary

COVID-19 has become a moment of opportunism for Indian e-commerce companies to consolidate their market power, insert themselves into local supply chains and co-opt neighborhood stores. Policy interventions are urgently needed to preserve the autonomy of the traditional retail sector and prevent Big Tech’s takeover of local economies.

By Anita Gurumurthy and Nandini Chami

Two bags of groceries from Amazon in front of a home

Will Big Tech emerge as the big winner in the coronacrisis? Not so fast.

Analysis

Big technology companies are getting a break from the “techlash,” but this does not mean that the monopolists are permanently off the hook. The crisis has highlighted privacy and security concerns and well as subpar labor standards in the industry. Social media face additional scrutiny for how they deal with COVID-19 related disinformation.

By Sabine Muscat

Digital Rights

Algorithmic misogynoir in content moderation practice

E-paper

"Algorithmic misogynoir in content moderation practice" from Brandeis Marshall, offers an intersectional perspective by exploring the discrimination specifically faced by Black women in the United States.

By Brandeis Marshall

The state of content moderation for the LGBTIQA+ community and the role of the EU Digital Services Act

E-paper

Platforms can empower groups that have previously been silenced. However, platforms also host hateful and illegal content, often targeted at minorities, and content is prone to being unfairly censored by algorithmically biased moderation systems. This report analyzes the current environment of content moderation, particularly bringing to light negative effects for the LGBTIQA+ community, and provides policy recommendations for the forthcoming negotiations on the EU Digital Services Act.

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