Digital Activism and Surveillance in Times of Pandemic

In this discussion session, participants will explore how COVID-19 contact tracing technologies may surveil and suppress political activity and dissent around the globe. This session welcomes activists, advocates, technologists, researchers, and policymakers who are engaged with diverse movements and are fighting for a more just digital world. Participants will identify the challenges and risks that the pervasive deployment of COVID-19 contact tracing technologies and related surveillance mechanisms may pose to activists, dissidents, and social movement participants. How are individual actors and social movement organizations responding to the potential and actual misuse of such technologies? The facilitators will bring case studies from across the world to inform the conversation. Participants will build a shared understanding of the current social, technological, and regulatory landscape; compare their experiences and perspectives; and begin to build toward a collective vision for addressing these challenges.