Social needs will continue to propel innovation even after health crisis ends

The fundamental driving force behind the application of technologies is social demand. It is evident that the novel coronavirus pandemic prevention and control measures, and post-pandemic resumption of work and production have given rise to an unprecedented demand for digital technologies.

During the public health emergency, China's digital economy - which facilitates a contactless lifestyle - has boomed. Online shopping, online learning, online medical consulting, teleconferencing and e-government have become the new normal.

At the same time, new digital apps are emerging and playing a crucial role in the fight against the virus.

According to a paper published in The Lancet in June, countries with low COVID-19 mortality rates have the following strategies in common: early surveillance, testing, contacting and strict quarantine implementation. The scale of coordination and data management required to effectively implement these strategies necessitates the use of digital technologies.

Take contact tracing for example. In China, local governments retrieve information from the health, telecommunications and transportation departments to identify individuals' close contacts over a 14-day period for the purpose of epidemic prevention and control.

In 2018, the internet penetration rate for cellphone users in China exceeded 82 percent, setting the ground for using telecom big data to check whether smartphone users come from or have visited affected areas. A study conducted by an Oxford University team indicated that a mobile internet penetration rate of 60 percent is needed to make this tool effective.

The health code is a digital health status feature of the Alipay and WeChat apps. It has been well received by the public, as it is more convenient than repeatedly filling out forms. Individuals are allowed entry into places after showing the code. For disease control agencies, the feature has improved the efficiency of information gathering and contact tracing, while avoiding the need to scrutinize a lot of paperwork.

Digital technologies are powerful tools helping governments in their fight to control the pandemic, but individuals' privacy and data must be protected. China has taken various measures to protect the legitimate use of personal data.

China, stresses the principles of anonymity, data use minimization, purpose limitation and legitimate use. In addition, China's National People's Congress has been stepping up efforts to formulate laws concerning the protection of personal information and data security, which will provide a more solid legal basis for the use of big data in normal and emergency situations.

On Feb 9, the Cyberspace Administration of China released the Notice of Effectively Protecting Personal Information and Using Big Data to Support Joint Prevention and Control. This notice provides a clear legal basis and technical specifications to protect personal information while using big data during the pandemic. For example, it stipulates that only entities authorized by the health department of the State Council are allowed to collect the relevant personal information; the collection of personal information shall adhere to the requirements outlined in China's national standards; and the personal information collected shall not be used for purposes other than to contain the virus. Entities collecting or possessing personal information shall take responsibility for data security and protection. Unlawful acts will be prosecuted.

Governments at all levels in China have followed relevant laws and regulations while releasing virus infection updates and maps. Telecommunication companies have improved their technical capacity to strictly discipline themselves and manage their collaborators while providing data in line with the laws and regulations.

In February and March, law enforcement agencies in Guangdong province, Tianjin and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region imposed punitive measures such as detaining individuals who disclosed personal information illegally.

Looking forward, the solutions in response to the public health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus will not continue in the post-pandemic era as the priorities of society and governments will then shift. Also, the role of digital technology depends on how it is integrated into solutions for social needs. There are loopholes in every technology solution. However, China's practice shows that digital technologies are plugging the loopholes at a fast pace. Our thinking needs to keep up with the speed of innovation. It is likely that in the post-pandemic era, social demand will further spur the digital transformation of Chinese businesses and government services.

The author is vice-president at the China Center for International Knowledge on Development. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.