Abstract

With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more countries are implementing large-scale technology-based tracking measures to monitor and prevent the propagation of the virus across the population. Yet, despite important efforts made by governments in terms of development and media campaigns, these technology-based tracking applications are globally failing to get the adhesion of the population. Indeed, the social acceptability of these technologies is problematic, since these applications are perceived as presenting a risk on individual liberties, resulting in very low levels of trust from the population. The aim of this paper is thus to analyze how technology-based tracking in the context of a pandemic can answer the needs and requirements of social accountability. We will first describe what kind of technological means can be used in a pandemic management context, from Internet control to implanted devices. We will then present some of the key factors that can impact the social acceptability of technological tracking, as well as some of the long-term challenges associated with massive technological tracking of the population. Finally, we will propose an operational framework to conceptualize social acceptability enforcement and to optimize population adhesion to these measures via specific practical actions that can be undertaken by governments, policymakers, decision leaders, and application developers to ensure that technological tracking is not only socially accepted, but also socially acceptable.