The third installment in the Global Pandemics in an Unequal World Webinar Series.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the expanded use of new digital technologies such as contact tracing apps and localization data used to model and monitor the pandemic. Their use by both authoritarian and democratic governments can invoke images of dystopian “Big Brother” digital surveillance - as well as utopian hopes the technology will help curb the pandemic and allow us to return to normal. Against this landscape, the panel will address key questions such as the following:
- Will digital innovations introduced during the crisis lead to more digital surveillance post-pandemic?
- Does their use advance the interests of private tech companies at the expense of the public interest?
- Can benefits be equitably distributed?
- Will these new technologies really help power us out of lockdowns? Or are they also a distraction from other, critical low-tech public health solutions?
The discussion will be moderated by Katerini Storeng, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of Independent Panel on Global Governance for Health, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Oslo.
Panelists:
- Sean McDonald, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Waterloo, Canada, and co-founder of Digital Public
- Susan Erikson, Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada
- Stephen L. Roberts, Assistant Professor, University College London, UK
- Manjari Mahajan, Associate Professor of International Affairs & Starr Professor and Co-Director of the India China Institute, The New School
As COVID-19 unfolds as a global pandemic of unprecedented reach and proportions, one thing that is clear is that it is reinforcing inequality. Not only are low income and marginalized populations more exposed to risks, but the pandemic is likely to entrench inequalities within and between countries. The institutions of 21st century neoliberal capitalism are ill equipped to protect the vulnerable, promote public interest, and prioritize health over commercial profits. Global Pandemics in an Unequal World Webinar Series, presented by the Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs, University of Oslo, and Health Policy Watch, seeks to ask: what are the public policies, civil society action, social movements, norms and values, and discourses we need – local, national, and global – to combat inequalities and promote a more egalitarian and sustainable pandemic response?
Committed to amplifying diverse voices, The New School offers more than a thousand public programs and events each year, providing fresh perspectives and unique learning opportunities. These lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and performances feature prominent and emerging artists, activists, and thought leaders.
To receive updates about public programs and events at The New School, subscribe to our mailing list. Visit our Livestream and YouTube channels to watch select events live and recorded.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum sagittis mi eu elementum malesuada. Maecenas arcu felis, suscipit vitae mi in, posuere ultricies nunc. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut ante velit, condimentum eget erat a, suscipit porttitor nisl. Pellentesque in semper nunc. Duis ultricies lacus nec dolor elementum efficitur. Cras congue neque et ipsum egestas, tincidunt tempor magna elementum. Maecenas in rhoncus ante, ac mattis lectus. Donec pulvinar nulla a varius malesuada. Ut auctor enim mi, mollis laoreet eros aliquam eget. Proin lectus tellus, ullamcorper nec neque a, ornare facilisis tellus. Proin in eros sit amet diam imperdiet varius. Duis tincidunt dolor nibh, ac interdum odio molestie vel. Cras dignissim enim at mi varius aliquet.