Abstract

In this paper, we attempt to provide starting points for a discussion on immediate and longer term consequences of COVID-19-induced uses of digital technologies for the distinction of the public and the private spheres. We start with clarifying definitions of the public and the private spheres in relation to the concept of privacy. What is considered private is at least in part contextually determined by conventions and social, political, economic and technological developments. From this perspective, we set out to critically evaluate the COVID-19-induced large-scale introduction of new digital tools in two essential areas of life: the workplace and education. We discuss the role of technology and its immediate concomitant legal or ethical challenges. The paper concludes with reflections on the possible longer-term normative effects of the use of digital tools in the context of the COVID-19 containment on the demarcation of the public and private spheres.

摘要

在本文中，我们试图为讨论 COVID-19 引发的使用数字技术区分公共和私人领域的直接和长期后果提供起点。我们首先澄清与隐私概念相关的公共和私人领域的定义。什么被认为是私人的，至少在一定程度上是由惯例和社会、政治、经济和技术发展决定的。从这个角度来看，我们开始批判性地评估 COVID-19 引发的在生活的两个基本领域大规模引入新的数字工具：工作场所和教育。我们讨论了技术的作用及其直接伴随的法律或道德挑战。