Israel will use spying devices to monitor patients
- The decree approved in the early morning of 17 March by the acting minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has allowed the movements of coronavirus infected through the cell phone. In addition, the internal spy agency Shin Bet will be able to use cameras that know drones and faces.
The Israeli internal spy agency will use counter-terrorism techniques to control coronavirus patients. This is an unprecedented measure, as it will allow the agency to maintain the location of citizens without judicial authorisation at all times. The technology will be used not only for patients, but also for those who have been in contact with them, to tell them that they have to spend two weeks of confinement.
Netanyahu’s decision has had many voices against it. The Israeli Civil Rights Organization considers this to be a "dangerous precedent," Obama said. The Institute for Israeli Democracy has questioned whether the Shin Bet, which is dedicated to internal security issues, can be used in a health emergency.
The Government has stressed that this data will only be used during the period of health emergency and that it will be deleted after the end of the decree, which is 30 days if it is not granted an extension. The Ministry of Health, for its part, may have these data available for another 60 days to carry out "internal analysis" in the CAV. It also reports that the data collected may not be used in criminal proceedings.
The opposition, for its part, has criticised Netanyahu’s decision to leave the country. The chairman of the committee of the Israeli Parliament, Gabi Askenazi Knesset, has criticised the decision taken early in the morning and in a clandestine manner: “The adoption of the early morning measure, taking advantage of the emergency situation, does not allow Parliament to discuss it.” Labour MEP Merav Michaeli has condemned the decision: “There is no legal justification for such extreme measures. Citizenship is not terrorism.”
Netanyahu, for his part, said that a balance must be sought between civil rights and the demands of the state and justice. “These devices will be very effective in catching patients and curbing the spread of the virus.”
Drastic measures
Espionage is not the only decisions taken by the Government. Since 17 March, citizens have been prohibited from leaving their homes, except for reasons of extreme need. Anyone who breaches the law can be fined EUR 1,200. The Administration has closed all offices and the night public transport service has been interrupted. For the time being, there are more than 300 infected in Israel, without mourning deaths.
