How China is using big data to tackle covid-19 spread

China is harvesting all the data it can to counter covid-19, but extreme surveillance methods worries rights activists: China’s antivirus strategy utilizes massive surveillance that tracks the entire population through cameras with facial recognition and drones that follow people around barking orders, according to a Wall Street Journal video (watch, runtime: 06:35). The surveillance reached the extent that they were able to create the “Close Contact Detector” a mobile application with over 200 mn users that could tell you if you came into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. As China’s technology usage is on the rise, so are human rights concerns over civil liberties. Now South Korea seems to be following the same model citing health concerns.