Countries worldwide are introducing innovative digital solutions to ensure public health and fight COVID-19. New measures speeded up to limit the spread of the virus, such as citizens’ tracking and digital surveillance could be as world-changing as the disease itself. Most of these changes aren’t temporary and many of them may have negative implications on democracy and human rights in the post-COVID time.
This is particularly relevant for Eastern Partnership countries, where democratization goes side by side with ensuring digital rights for citizens. The fundamental digital rights including the right to personal data and privacy are reportedly being violated in EaP countries during the pandemic. Moreover, due to weakness of institutions in EaP countries there is a risk that some digital solutions, including citizens’ tracking would be used for purposes other than COVID-19 and beyond the pandemic.
The Institute of Innovative Governance is inviting you to join the event, organized by the coalition of 6 EaP countries and discuss how governments and other actors use mobile and biometric applications as a response to Covid-19 and what implications it may have for democracy and digital rights.
The event is organized by the Institute of Innovative Governance, Digital Communication Network, East Center and Social-Strategic Researches and Analytical Investigations Public Union and with the support of Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.