This commentary examines the COVID-19 pandemic as a moment of strategic advancement for digital platforms. Focusing on the redeployment of Google Maps data for tracking adherence to mobility restrictions, I argue that demonstrating such ‘public value’ uses of Google’s vast geolocation and behavioral data forms part of a larger effort to strengthen their economic and political position in the face of two existential threats—declining advertising revenues and platform regulation.

中文翻译：

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平台慈善，“公共价值”和COVID-19大流行时刻

这篇评论探讨了COVID-19大流行，将其作为数字平台战略发展的时刻。我着重于重新部署Google Maps数据以跟踪对出行限制的遵守情况，我认为，展示Google对巨大的地理位置和行为数据的这种“公共价值”使用构成了面对两个方面来加强其经济和政治地位的更大努力的一部分存在的威胁-广告收入和平台法规的下降。