One unanticipated consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been
the huge increase in the collection of personal data.
With much of the world's population working remotely for
extended periods, people have had to quickly sign up to digital
tools and communications platforms, often without fully
understanding how those tools may be collecting their personal
data, or worse, knowing that the companies behind those platforms
will harvest their data, but having no alternative other than to
accept. At the same time, their smart home devices are capable of
recording confidential conversations and their phones are able to
track their movements with increasing precision. Should these
workers venture outside their temporary home offices, new
surveillance and tracking measures monitor adherence to
"lockdowns" and public health authorities are
increasingly sharing medical data, all in an attempt to keep the
virus under control.
