Is the Shin Bet security agency's mandate for tracking Israelis' whereabouts, as part of the effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic, coming to an end? The Health Ministry, Shin Bet and National Security Council will examine new guidelines for possibly shelving comprehensive tracing in favor of more pinpointed use of the surveillance technology.
The possible policy shift comes amid improved epidemiological research carried out by the IDF's Homefront Command, the Ministerial Committee on Intelligence Services said in a statement.
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In the discussion convened on Wednesday, the committee approved extending the agency's surveillance mandate by another 14 days rather than the customary 21-day extension. Ever since the tracing technology was first introduced to help contain the first wave of the pandemic, Shin Bet officials have insisted it only be used as a supplementary tool and have consistently asked that its implementation be minimized. This position has been echoed by the Privacy Protection Authority.
As stated, in light of improved epidemiological inquiry, the Shin Bet would like its technology to serve strictly as a type of "safety net."
The electronic surveillance is carried out via cellphone triangulation technology.
Based on figures from the past week provided by the Home Front Command, an infected person visited an average of 3.5 places after contracting the virus and came into contact with an average of 11 people. Over the past week, 6,497 epidemiological inquiries were conducted.
Also discussed in the meeting was the matter of "green passports" for people who have already recovered from the disease and, in the future, those who will have been vaccinated. Health Ministry representatives at the meeting presented the development process for the so-called passport phone application.
Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said: "The Shin Bet tool saved hundreds of people's lives and mitigated the economic damage to the country. In light of the epidemiological inquiry improvements by the Health Ministry and Home Front Command, we will examine the scope of use of the Shin Bet's tracing technology. The Health Ministry's main objective now is to complete the development of the health passport … because of the economic importance to the numerous recreation and leisure businesses that will be able to reopen to the public."
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