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: Paperback / softback
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 mobile apps help law enforcement agencies track criminals, prevent crimes, and respond to emergencies more effectively.

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 who has access to this information, how it is used, and what safeguards are in place to protect individuals' rights. There are also ethical concerns about the use of tracking technologies in certain contexts, such as monitoring individuals with mental health conditions or drug users, where the potential for stigmatization and discrimination may outweigh the potential benefits.

Furthermore, tracking technologies have implications for social and cultural norms. They can shape our behavior and attitudes towards privacy, surveillance, and self-disclosure. For instance, the widespread use of social media and location-sharing apps has led to changes in our social interactions and expectations of privacy. It has also raised concerns about the erosion of personal boundaries and the potential for surveillance capitalism, where companies profit from collecting and selling personal data.

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 ownership, security, and anonymization. Governments, industry, and civil society should work together to establish regulations that balance the benefits of tracking technologies with the need to protect individuals' 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 comprehensive exploration of these issues, offering insights from diverse perspectives and highlighting the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop ethical and responsible guidelines for the use of tracking technologies.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367443580