Surveillance, Payments, and COVID-19: A Look at China’s Response

Tracking Amidst a Pandemic

The government of Hubei has taken some serious steps to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, effectively turning the province into a high-tech surveillance hub. From Feb. 18 onwards, officials decided that tracking the purchase of fever medicine isn’t just a good idea; it’s a necessary evil. So, pharmacies are now playing bouncers at the medicine aisle, insisting on valid ID for anyone needing fever-relief meds. Because, you know, it’s less fun living in a world of unmonitored pharmaceutical transactions.

Fever Patrol: The Information Gathering

Moving beyond just the purchase of medicine, Hubei officials have kicked off a comprehensive investigation into everyone with a fever. It’s like a health version of Netflix’s “Are You Still Watching?”—except here, there’s no option to binge and skip. They’ve been gathering a feast of information: names, IDs, addresses, and even contact numbers of those seeking treatment. The extensive data collation has been made easier through the use of popular mobile payment systems like Alipay and WeChat. The government is less about the details of social distancing and more focused on medical information gathering.

Are CBDCs Really Necessary?

With the high level of digital payments in China, many are left asking whether Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are a pressing need. The People’s Bank of China believes it’s a solid plan as they navigate the uncharted waters of digital payments. Some might argue that if the government can already track flu medications, what’s the point of introducing a digital Yuan? It’s akin to having an umbrella in a rainstorm when you’re already soaked—sure, it’s nice to have, but is it really solving your problems?

How Does Cryptocurrency Fit In?

The rise of cryptocurrencies seems to have redefined the narrative surrounding money, privacy, and surveillance, especially in China’s current situation. Although Bitcoin transactions could potentially fly under the radar of government scrutiny, once entities are assigned to wallet addresses, the whole privacy narrative is turned on its head. Privacy coins like Monero and Zcash could keep governments guessing, but in the world of medicine, secrecy can be a slippery slope.

Ethical Considerations in Surveillance

Let’s face it: the ethics of tracking individuals in a pandemic is like trying to build a sandcastle in quicksand. While the intention is clear—curbing the spread of a potentially disease-riddled individual—the method is debatable. In a society where cash continues to exist, some cryptocurrencies mimic its anonymity, but hey, cash can’t exactly spread an infection either. Coincidentally, the widespread and open tracking methods may be essential to curb health crises, leaving us in an ethical gray area worthy of a deep podcast discussion.