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Delineating privacy aspects of COVID tracing applications embedded with proximity measurement technologies & digital technologies

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  • Saheb, Tahereh
  • Sabour, Elham
  • Qanbary, Fatimah
  • Saheb, Tayebeh

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic expanded over the globe, governments implemented a series of technological measures to prevent the disease's spread. The development of the COVID Tracing Application (CTA) was one of these measures. In this study, we employed bibliometric and topic-based content analysis to determine the most significant entities and research topics. Additionally, we identified significant privacy concerns posed by CTAs, which gather, store, and analyze data in partnership with large technology corporations using proximity measurement technologies, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. We examined a series of key privacy threats identified in our study. These privacy risks include anti-democratic and discriminatory behaviors, politicization of care, derogation of human rights, techno governance, citizen distrust and refusal to adopt, citizen surveillance, and mandatory legislation of the apps' installation. Finally, sixteen research gaps were identified. Then, based on the identified theoretical gaps, we recommended fourteen prospective study strands. Theoretically, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge about the privacy of mobile health applications that are embedded with cutting-edge technologies and are employed during global pandemics.

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  • Saheb, Tahereh & Sabour, Elham & Qanbary, Fatimah & Saheb, Tayebeh, 2022. "Delineating privacy aspects of COVID tracing applications embedded with proximity measurement technologies & digital technologies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:69:y:2022:i:c:s0160791x22001099
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101968
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    1. Hayat, Naeem & Salameh, Anas A. & Malik, Haider Ali & Yaacob, Mohd Rafi, 2022. "Exploring the adoption of wearable healthcare devices among the Pakistani adults with dual analysis techniques," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    2. Pinheiro Amâncio, Fernanda Maria & Souza, Ana Paula & Fantinato, Marcelo & Peres, Sarajane Marques & Hung, Patrick C.K. & Coutinho do Rêgo, Luis Gustavo & Roa, Jorge, 2023. "Parental perception of children's privacy in smart toys in countries of different economic levels," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Yang, Hongjun & Zhang, Shengtai, 2022. "Social media affordances and fatigue: The role of privacy concerns, impression management concerns, and self-esteem," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Saheb, Tahereh & Saheb, Tayebeh, 2023. "Topical review of artificial intelligence national policies: A mixed method analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Wang, Victoria & Tucker, John V., 2023. "People watching: Abstractions and orthodoxies of monitoring," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    6. Dzandu, Michael D., 2023. "Antecedent, behaviour, and consequence (a-b-c) of deploying the contact tracing app in response to COVID-19: Evidence from Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).

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