The White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are asking Facebook, Google and other tech giants to give them greater access to Americans’ smartphone location data in order to help them combat the spread of the coronavirus, according to four people at companies involved in the discussions who are not authorized to speak about them publicly.
Federal health officials say they could use anonymous, aggregated user data collected by the tech companies to map the spread of the virus — a practice known as “syndromic surveillance” — and prevent further infections. They could also use the data to see whether people were practicing “social distancing.”
Some sources stressed that the effort would be anonymized and that government would not have access to specific individuals’ locations. They noted that users would be required to opt-in to the effort.
The federal effort, first reported by The Washington Post, will force the tech giants to weigh their commitments to user privacy against their desire to help combat a disease that has cost thousands of human lives and upended the global economy.
The government officials have held at least two calls in recent days with representatives from the companies, the sources said. Those officials are “very serious” about making this happen, a person at one of the tech companies said.
“They could also use the data to see whether people were practicing “social distancing.””
OMG! This has absolutely nothing to do with it. This such a far fetched grab for power and tracking of your every move and a breach of the 4th Article, it’s not even funny.
There’s no reason why they need to find out whether people are practicing social distancing. Even if they allowed it (which is nothing short of treason), it makes no sense because a person could leave their phone at home while they go out with a friend. Their phones could be out of battery and not near them. They could lose their cellphone, etc.etc.etc. The fallacies are endless in their argument. It’s a joke.
As Henry would say, “It’s not supposed to make sense.”
Are people so addicted to smartphones?
Heard on the radio they have a coronavirus podcast commercial for people to call in. All this for a damn hoax. Cant believe people are falling for this .
call in for what purpose?
Since I don’t have a smart phone or any cell phone, come get me (and there is not cell service out here anyway)…but can you track those pesky felines? Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
LOL….same here!
They’ve been tracking me for 14 years easy, f you…could care less. Part of the hazard in this business.