After 9/11, the United States displayed how easily rights are infringed upon in chaotic times. A war was started. Phones, emails, financial records and homes became fair game for search without probable cause. Indefinite detention of immigrants became authorized under the pretense of security. Privacy took a massive blow and the US population and major media outlets mostly approved. These measures are still in effect today.
Governments are always able to exert more power in times of crisis. Declaring a state of emergency means that regulations and boundaries can be overstepped with the full support of a fearful populace searching for security. With Coronavirus reaching every corner of the globe and almost every country, state after state finds itself in emergency.
Which creates the perfect opportunity for governments to take advantage. And they certainly have been.
In Hungary, the Prime Minister is attempting to pass a bill allowing him to rule by decree. It would also allow the government to prosecute anyone spreading false information that alarms the public. This bill has no clear end date.
11 countries are tracking people’s phones because of the virus. Once these types of measures are put in place, they don’t tend to go away after the crisis. The pandemic is causing increased surveillance and a loss of privacy worldwide.
China, which has been lauded for its response, is implementing increasingly draconian measures in the name of containment. They have put in place a nationwide tracking system, sealed off cities and locked down the majority of their inhabitants, and even arrested people for not wearing masks at home. With China’s efforts being praised, other governments are likely to follow suit with increasingly authoritarian measures, all in the name of containing the virus.
In Iran, the nation’s Revolutionary Guard have taken to the streets in an effort to publicly assert power. The Guard’s leader has suggested that the virus is an American creation and an act of biological warfare. As of February 27th, Five people have been arrested for spreading misinformation about the death toll.
In the United Kingdom, local elections have been postponed for a year. Their emergency coronavirus bill will allow police to detain and hold people they believe to be infectious.
In America, the President has only recently begun to take his response seriously. Until then, he was playing down the severity of the virus and declared the hype around the situation to be a new hoax by the Democrats. Now that he has declared a state of emergency, it is obvious that he cares less about the virus itself and more about political gains and increasing his power.
In sum, Coronavirus has led to an increase in surveillance, crackdowns on journalism, restrictions on movement, less restrictions on legislature, and bans on social gatherings. While many of these are the internationally accepted responses, there is no doubt that even if they are responsible, they infringe on civil liberties and easily lend themselves to permanently increased governmental power. Even if for the right reasons, a government with more power is able to abuse human rights with greater ease. It is likely that many of the actions governments are taking now will remain in effect long after the spread of the virus has calmed down.
The only way to combat this is to keep a watchful eye on the government. It might be a time of fear, where security is the top priority, but citizens must ensure that governments do not overstep their boundaries.
Arlo O’Blaney
grew up in New York City and is currently a Human Rights major at Bard College. He intends on using this background to pursue a career in journalism. He almost played D3 Lacrosse but realized how bad of an idea that was.