Israel is using cellphone data to track the coronavirus

Yes, Israel has been using cellphone data to track the spread of the coronavirus. In March 2020, the Israeli government partnered with the country's largest cellphone providers, Cellcom, Partner, and Pelephone, to collect and analyze cellphone data to help track the spread of the virus.

The program, called "Corona C" (Hebrew: קורונה סי), uses cellphone data to identify individuals who have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The data is collected through a combination of GPS tracking, cell tower location data, and Wi-Fi signals.

Here's how it works:

  1. Cellphone users who have opted-in to the program allow their cellphone providers to collect their location data.
  2. The data is then analyzed by a team of experts at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) to identify individuals who have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
  3. The individuals who have been in close proximity are then notified by text message and are advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
  4. The program also provides real-time data to the Israeli Ministry of Health, which uses it to track the spread of the virus and identify hotspots.

The program has been credited with helping to slow the spread of the virus in Israel, and has been praised by health experts for its effectiveness. However, it has also raised concerns about privacy and the potential for abuse of the data.

Some of the concerns include:

In response to these concerns, the Israeli government has implemented measures to protect the privacy of cellphone users, including:

Overall, the use of cellphone data to track the spread of the coronavirus in Israel is a complex issue that raises important questions about privacy, data protection, and the balance between individual rights and public health concerns.