Tracking People: Wearable Technologies in Social and Public Policy

Tracking technologies are now ubiquitous and are used by governments, health services, immigration and criminal justice agencies to monitor individuals' whereabouts, behavior, medical conditions, and interventions. This book explores the ethical, legal, social, and technical issues arising from the widespread use of tracking technologies, including with individuals with dementia, defendants and offenders, individuals with mental health conditions, and drug users. Cross-disciplinary themes emerge focusing on both the benefits and challenges of the technologies, such as freedom, improved safety, security, well-being, and autonomy, and increased capacity and efficiencies for public services.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Tracking technologies have become an integral part of our daily lives, embraced by a significant portion of the population. People voluntarily use devices and apps to monitor various aspects of their health, well-being, and location. Governments, health services, immigration, and criminal justice agencies increasingly rely on tracking technologies to monitor individuals' whereabouts, behavior, medical conditions, and interventions. While some organizations and individuals raise human rights concerns, the majority of wearers and their significant others welcome these technologies. This paradox is just one of the many intriguing challenges raised by the widespread use of tracking technologies.

This book delves critically into the ethical, legal, social, and technical implications of the current and future use of tracking technologies. It offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of issues related to technological devices and apps that are imposed upon wearers or suggested by others, whether by agencies or individuals, including in the domains of criminal justice, terrorism, and health and social care. Contributions from esteemed academics from various social sciences, engineering, computer and data science, philosophy, and health and social care disciplines address the diverse applications of tracking technologies, encompassing individuals with dementia, defendants and offenders, individuals with mental health conditions, and drug users, alongside legal, ethical, and normative considerations about their appropriate use. Cross-disciplinary themes emerge, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of these technologies.

On the one hand, tracking technologies provide individuals with freedom, improved safety, security, well-being, and autonomy. They enhance capacity and efficiency in various aspects of our lives, such as healthcare delivery, transportation, and surveillance. For example, wearable health devices enable individuals to monitor their health conditions, track their physical activity, and receive personalized health recommendations. Similarly, GPS tracking systems and location-sharing apps provide valuable tools for safety and security, allowing individuals to share their location with trusted contacts and receive real-time alerts in case of emergencies.

On the other hand, tracking technologies raise concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the potential for abuse. The collection and analysis of vast amounts of personal data can raise questions about individual rights, autonomy, and the potential for discrimination. Moreover, the use of tracking technologies in criminal justice and law enforcement can lead to over-policing, racial profiling, and the erosion of individual rights. The potential for misuse of tracking technologies, such as stalking or cyberbullying, also poses significant risks to individuals' well-being.

To address these challenges, it is essential to develop ethical and responsible guidelines for the use of tracking technologies. This includes ensuring transparency, consent, and privacy protection, as well as addressing issues related to data security, data ownership, and data anonymization. Additionally, there is a need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop policies and regulations that balance the benefits of tracking technologies with the need to protect individual rights and privacy.

In conclusion, tracking technologies have transformed the way we live and interact with each other. While they offer significant benefits, they also raise ethical, legal, social, and technical issues that require careful consideration. This book provides a valuable platform for exploring these issues and developing solutions that balance the benefits of tracking technologies with the need to protect individual rights and privacy.

Weight: 625g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367443573