If Agreement and Trust Are Formed Between Government and Citizens, a 'Good Big Brother' Is Possible

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Historically, infectious diseases and social transformations have occurred in succession, as if passing a baton. The plague was the trigger that led to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire under Justinian in the 14th century. One of the reasons for the collapse of the vast Western Roman Empire in the 17th century was smallpox. There was also the Spanish flu, which hastened the end of World War I. So, what changes will the world and our society undergo after the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

Since COVID-19 first broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December last year, as of the 27th, the total number of confirmed cases worldwide has exceeded 5.5 million, with deaths surpassing 340,000. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has lasted for five months, has changed perceptions not only in daily life but also in politics, economy, and society. Naturally, the role of the government in controlling (or protecting) individuals has also reached a turning point. The emergence of so-called 'Big Brother' governments that monopolize information to monitor and control citizens is one of the darker aspects.

Yuval Noah Harari, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and author of "Sapiens," wrote in an international media contribution that "the COVID-19 crisis is becoming a significant watershed in the history of humanity's surveillance systems." Domestic experts have expressed similar concerns. Professor Hangseop Choi of the Department of Sociology at Kookmin University said, "It is a situation similar to war," adding, "Because the entire community experienced that 'if the community does not survive, neither do I,' it is highly likely that the common sense that individuals must provide personal information to the government for their safety and survival will spread compliantly in the future."

The basis for this is humans' instinctive fear of infectious diseases. Professor Jaeryong Song of the Department of Sociology at Kyung Hee University explained, "Since many citizens prioritized preventing the outbreak of COVID-19, even if the government took the lead in controlling information and infringing on privacy, criticism was not possible." This means that the prevailing perception is that some degree of control and information disclosure is necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect oneself. Professor Harari also stated in his contribution, "The real problem is asking people to choose between personal information and health," adding, "If people are forced to choose between health and personal information, most will choose health."

From this perspective, social consensus on the extent to which citizens should comply when the government demands information disclosure is a challenge facing the post-COVID era. Prior to this, there is also a need to consider "how to concretize the government's standards for requesting personal information." Professor Song said, "In liberal democratic societies, governments monopolizing and utilizing personal information can evolve into a very dangerous phase," adding, "This is a part that must be critically scrutinized, and discussions such as not using information without the individual's prior consent should take place." Professor Choi said, "The promotion of surveillance systems using biometric information, like in China, will face strong public opposition not only in our country but in most countries worldwide," emphasizing, "There needs to be consensus on what level of information requests, such as contact details, are acceptable to the public."

Along with checks on the government, there is also talk about the need for trust. Professor Song advised, "Governments may fall into the temptation to use information arbitrarily in the process of realizing social ideals or goals. This part must be checked." Professor Choi also said, "If trust between the government and the public is established, it could become a 'benevolent Big Brother,'" adding, "The key will be which ruler takes power, how they use information, and to what extent the public places trust in them."