The evolution of measures to contain the novel coronavirus around the world increasingly points to the strategic use of electronic security technologies that allow for the evaluation of compliance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce the negative effects of the pandemic. Countries such as Israel, China, Singapore, and South Korea are using a combination of location data and security cameras to track the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
The strategic use of electronic security in these cases is subject to the laws and technological availability of each country. By far, China and South Korea are the countries that have most mobilized mass monitoring tools \u2013 from drones to security cameras \u2013 to monitor people in quarantine and track the spread of the coronavirus. The state of S\u00e3o Paulo will also use artificial intelligence to track people's movements and the coronavirus through the tracking of smartphones and cell phones; however, it is necessary to respect fundamental guarantees and the right to privacy, a measure that will still require extensive debate, specifically in the legal field, even in light of the LGPD \u2013 General Data Protection Law.<\/p>\n
The Chinese and South Korean models, cited by the Spanish Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, as examples of how it is possible to overcome the pandemic, managed to reverse the trend of Covid-19 infections to the point of being close to defeating the pandemic and influenced the measures adopted by Spain since the government declared a state of emergency: drones are being used to tell people to stay home.<\/p>\n
Far from providing a recipe for combating the new coronavirus, these practices present us with possibilities for using technologies that are already available to contribute to maintaining the quarantine measures necessary to save lives and prevent the collapse of the health system. Thus, we observe that the Remote Access Control resource, for example, has gained strength during this period since the technologies available to control access to condominiums, such as facial recognition and proximity devices to access the premises, reduce physical contact. The technology allows the doorman to work remotely from the condominium, avoiding daily commutes and the risk of spreading the virus on site, especially during quarantine, in addition to considerably reducing condominium costs.<\/p>\n
Another health measure we have achieved through resources used in electronic security, provided the company has the necessary registration certificate authorized by the army, is the verification of body temperature using thermal video cameras. The equipment widely used by airports at immigration counters to identify passengers with fever can also be used in industries and other essential sectors that need to remain operational but prioritize the health of their employees above all else.<\/p>\n
To further contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Military Police of several Brazilian states have been using an important application: technological towers that, in addition to having security cameras, also track license plates, control vehicle flow, and send automatic emergency signals to monitoring centers. The towers also have loudspeakers that, through recorded messages, alert and guide the population in areas with large gatherings of people, such as beaches and squares, according to the needs of each location.<\/p>\n
The value of electronic security at this time is undeniable. However, the use of data in combating the pandemic also presents us with important challenges, such as ethical questions regarding citizens' privacy.<\/p>\n
Finally, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, electronic security is increasingly approaching the public sector, demonstrating that technology should not be restricted solely to the private sector. The social value of the most advanced security resources proves to be an important tool for protecting life and, despite the need for rigorous security protocols for the operation and storage of this data, it is a necessary advancement.<\/p>\n
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