Home Categories About
argument top image
How do we think about the UK lockdown debate? How do we think about the UK lockdown debate?
The libertarian position, or 'End lockdown now!' The libertarian position, or 'End lockdown now!'
The nanny state position, or 'Let the state look after us' The nanny state position, or 'Let the state look after us'
The authoritarian position, or 'Do not lift lockdown!' The authoritarian position, or 'Do not lift lockdown!'
The collective coordination state The collective coordination state
Test, trace, isolate, protect Test, trace, isolate, protect
Lockdown puts us on the path to totalitarian rule Lockdown puts us on the path to totalitarian rule
The state should not control the individual The state should not control the individual
The greater good must come first The greater good must come first
The UK lockdown model is false The UK lockdown model is false
Death rate predictions are rooted in lies Death rate predictions are rooted in lies
The government cannot be trusted The government cannot be trusted
Most people have already had the virus Most people have already had the virus
The pandemic will kill, lockdown or no lockdown The pandemic will kill, lockdown or no lockdown
We should relax the lines between the public and the private We should relax the lines between the public and the private
The role of the state must adapt in times of crisis The role of the state must adapt in times of crisis
Give the healthy their independence back Give the healthy their independence back
The state should end lockdown in phases The state should end lockdown in phases
We must trust Neil Ferguson's model We must trust Neil Ferguson's model
Public health supersedes any other consideration during the pandemic Public health supersedes any other consideration during the pandemic
Despot now, doughnut later Despot now, doughnut later
Lifting the lockdown will give rise to a police state, which must be avoided Lifting the lockdown will give rise to a police state, which must be avoided
Lifting lockdown forces workers to risk their lives during the pandemic Lifting lockdown forces workers to risk their lives during the pandemic
The lockdown solves a problem of private and social cost The lockdown solves a problem of private and social cost
We should stop the virus from spreading We should stop the virus from spreading
Contact tracing apps can potentially help individuals monitor their risk of exposure and transmission Contact tracing apps can potentially help individuals monitor their risk of exposure and transmission
More public health jobs would be created in the UK More public health jobs would be created in the UK
We need to support the test, trace, and isolation infrastructure We need to support the test, trace, and isolation infrastructure
Debate Mini Map

How do we think about the UK lockdown debate?
Back to question

Test, trace, isolate, protect

< (5 of 5)

Contact tracing apps can potentially help individuals monitor their risk of exposure and transmission

Many large technology companies are developing apps that can track COVID-19 infections. They can warn individuals when they have been exposed to the disease and they can even mention places to avoid. Such a technological solution could potentially help defeat the virus.
Coronavirus Government Health Lockdown United Kingdom
Hannah Clapham Michael Veale Raha Rasha Abdul Rahim Stephanie Hare
< (2 of 4) Next argument >

The Argument

Apple, Google, and many prominent startup technology companies have started developing technological solutions to defeat COVID-19. [1] One of their most promising approaches is to develop contact-tracing apps. Over 25 distinct contact tracing apps have already been implemented all across the world. These apps are developed by prominent companies and backed by the central government of their respective country. The goal is to encourage a large portion of the public to download the app. Then, if they come in contact or are potentially at risk of being infected, an automated exposure notification is sent to the user and public health workers. This is extremely beneficial because it helps individuals and governments track exposure levels, risk levels, and make better decisions. If someone knows that a certain area is more COVID-19 prone or that they have been exposed to the disease, they are much more likely to self-quarantine. Also, these apps will greatly help public health workers trace COVID-19 infections, and it lowers their risk of exposure to the disease. They would no longer have to visit people, towns, or other places in-person to keep track of the disease's movements. Their jobs will be greatly supplemented by this app and it helps protect them as well. In a changing society that is increasingly reliant on technology, it is reasonable to find a tech-centered solution for this pandemic.

Counter arguments

There are numerous safety and data privacy issues with contact-tracing apps. For example, Iran developed an app called AC19 which was swiftly banned by Google. This is because they were planning on collecting much more data regarding individuals than Google's laws and mandates allowed.[2] Also, in China, systems were introduced that could easily collect an individual's payment history, identity, and location once the app was installed. Local police could even be notified of these individuals and action could be taken against them. These are just some of the privacy risks involved with such an app. In order to truly trace the spread of the virus, governments would have to tap into personal history and data. To add to this, these apps have not been proven to make a dent in countries that are already using them. Is it worthwhile or even reasonable to pay such a high price for an idea that may or may not work?

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/03/why-coronavirus-contact-tracing-apps-havent-been-a-game-changer.html
  2. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/05/07/1000961/launching-mittr-covid-tracing-tracker/source.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 26 Oct 2020 at 14:47 UTC

Explore related arguments