A new way of life?
In the face of the recent outbreak of Corona Virus, many of our daily habits and routines have changed dramatically in the space of a couple of weeks. From working remotely, to online classes, to closed entertainment venues, to limited flying, our ways of living have been turned upside down. Remote and online living is becoming a thing of the now. Are businesses prepared to shift to remote working, can we cut air travel, should we be stocking up on food and toiletries and can we stay calm and carry on?
The economy has taken a huge hit due to the outbreak of the virus and now questions specifically of employment instability have surfaced. One threat to job stability exists in regards to those dependent on employment within the gig economy. The gig economy has thrived over the past five years, extending into all aspects of daily life from deliveries to home repairs to transportation. While the new era of employment through the gig economy has always been an unstable model of work, in today’s environment, where we need to reduce human to human contact as much as possible and work remotely, is it possible for these types of job to endure? Without unemployment insurance, sick pay, a social net and medical benefits how can people reliant on the gig economy survive in the face of this health crisis. Already drones are replacing deliveries of food and medical supplies, and people are starting to work increasingly from home and avoid public spaces so reliance on car services, such as Uber and Lyft have reduced. Many of these jobs cannot be performed at home and many workers who depend on gig work for survival say they simply cannot afford to take time off, even if it means putting themselves or others at risk. How do we protect those involved in gig jobs, which make up around 36% of US workers (Gallup)?
What does this new state of living look like and are we ready for it?
Drones to the rescue
Drones seem to be penetrating all aspects of virus response today. From delivering medical supplies and quarantine materials, to sanitizing public spaces, to recording street views, to detecting whether people are wearing masks and scolding those who are not.
How does our privacy and personal right to freedom fair in the face of public health crises? It is important to constantly question the ways we view personal privacy and to analyse how in the face of crises these ideas adapt and transgress from the norm. Is China’s draconian approach to surveillance and tracking a viable response in the face of public health crises and something other countries might benefit from? Or must we maintain respect for certain unalienable rights to freedom and privacy regardless of external circumstances? Furthermore, how will rights regarding freedom of movement be impacted? Will laws restricting movement in and out of countries deviate into restricting specific nationalities and become a form of racializing freedom of movement and further exacerbate discrimination and xenophobia? How can we grapple with the issue of restricting entry into countries to fight the spread of the virus, while limiting the spread of discrimination and racism?