Tech could hurt the fight against Coronavirus if we’re not careful. Here are the four questions we have to ask ourselves. Are you listening to experts and vulnerable communities? Can you join existing efforts? Can your technology do what you say it’s going to do? How does your technology shift power?
The first question is “Are you listening to experts and vulnerable communities?” It is about understanding the social context, about knowing what is helpful or harmful. You have to find credible or reliable sources. The second question, “Can you join existing efforts?”, is about searching for a team that can answer all three of these questions. You also have to find a project that involves experts, community involvement, and with ethical frameworks in place.
The third question is “Can your technology do what you say it’s going to do?” This is about if your solution improves the real world, or if it only works in some environments. You have to complete and test your work in a certain timeframe, and you will also need all the resources to finish your project, or you will need to abandon it. The last question is, “How does your technology shift power?” You have to consider who your projects shifts power from, and to. You have to think about who will have access to your technology and if it helps vulnerable communities and those who are most in need.