CoViD-19(84)
Opinion piece by Karim Bassil, Staff Writer
May 26th, 2020
Published 71 years ago, 1984 is a novel that conservatives, liberals, socialists, libertarians and anarchists, claim cannot be merely “political thought disguised as a novel”. Dystopia, is the word normally associated with George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984). Along with that, it is, to debatable and varying degrees; a prophecy, a political thesis, a satire, a warning, a work of science fiction, a psychological horror, a gothic nightmare, a postmodern text and a love story.
Most people read it when they’re young and many feel hurt by it. The book offers more sorrow and less comfort than any other typical high-school reading material. However, in recent times there’s a captivating feeling to re-experience it in adulthood. It is an opening to see it in a different light, which is far richer and stranger than you remember.
Orwell hinted at, and used his book, to serve as a warning against absolute power of all kinds. Against the manipulation of language and the loss of independent thought. ‘1984’ focuses on issues we are accustomed with today: censorship, propaganda, surveillance, and oppressive governments. Through the book, Orwell foretold the use of mass surveillance and police helicopters keeping an eye out on everyone. Much of what he had imagined has come true, including facial recognition, speech to text conversion, music made by artificial intelligence, and, of course, the concept of ‘Big Brother’ watching your every move.
Countries across Europe have been increasing the use of data-tracking technology to keep up with the trail of the CoViD-19 (coronavirus) infection and observe quarantines. This caused the handing over of location data by mobile phone operators while at the same time enlisting the help of US technology company Palantir, better known for its relationship with government spy agencies.
However, the fightback is beginning with an alliance of technology experts and scientists from across Europe who have come together to try and prevent the fight against coronavirus, which seems to be coming at the expense of people’s privacy. Last month, the group unveiled an initiative with the name PEPP-PT, which stands for Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing, which may not be the catchiest but still gets the message across.
The PEPP-PT is meant to be an approach which is focused on preserving privacy to the fullest, while still being able to track the coronavirus across European borders. It is led by Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) for telecoms. There are 130 members across eight countries backing the initiative. The members come from companies like the UK’s Vodafone to research labs like France’s Inria. The PEPP-PT’s aim is to develop a rudimentary set of standards, technology and services, that countries and developers can use. It is setting the outline for the mass of apps that are likely to emerge as answers to a global pandemic.
Some companies in Sweden have introduced microchips for its employees and say that it is a voluntary act. Company owners claim that it is safe and that it won’t invade their employee’s privacy. It was claimed that the microchips could be used as a tool for a simpler life. It makes lives easier for those who have serious medical conditions, which could come in handy during a pandemic like the one the world is facing today. Despite the fact that there is no central directory for how many people have the microchips implanted, there is an estimated 4000-5000 Swedes who have the microchip implanted in them. This is perhaps one of the first ways that the government is beginning to take control of people.
The argument for a safer living is acknowledged, but, the individuals’ privacy and liberty is completely off the table. Using the Coronavirus as a potential excuse to have more people inject these microchips is a call for complete tyranny.
In 2020, it is the state that made use of vast surveillance to maintain order. In 2020, the government funded the vast domain of equipment and personnel needed to maintain constant surveillance of its citizens. In 2020, the government constantly rewrites and deletes history whenever it becomes inconvenient. These statements do sound like they are happening in today’s world, however, they come straight out of Orwell’s famous novel.
CoViD-19 is a global emergency, and many lives are at risk and action must be taken. However, it is important to attempt to reduce any negative side effects of the various solutions that could be introduced. The breach of our privacy is a side effect that should be taken into consideration and will require more than just technical solutions to avoid it from happening. The avoidance such a debacle will require good governance and data protection policy.
Society is at a crossroads. A protocol involving contact tracing that is private by design, joined with mass testing and responsible data control, is not only an attempt to aid in halting the spread of this virus, but also guarantees we come out of this crisis with privacy protection laws that are even more solid than before.
Indeed, the similarities between our world today and the words of the book are nearly endless. While looking at the bigger picture, 71 years after 1984’s publication, it appears that almost every aspect of Orwell’s commentary on the surveillance state has come true. In the end, as we rush towards an ever more Orwellian world of surveillance and censorship, perhaps we might all take the time to reread 1984 in order to better understand the world we are rushing towards. Understanding the meaning of going into such a world, enables us to understand how states and governments are robbing citizens of their privacy and of their liberty.
The CoViD-19 virus seems like the perfect excuse to impose heavier surveillance laws. However, one must always question the intentions of the government when issues as basic as privacy and liberty are at stake. By doing so we can avoid CoViD-19 from turning into CoViD-1984.