Fed government reportedly considering access to cellphone data to track coronavirus

The federal government is reportedly talking with tech companies like Facebook and Goggle about how health experts could use cell phone data such as Americans’ movements to track and fight the coronavirus.  

Among the information that could likely be helpful in geo-data to learn whether people are keeping a safe distance to slow the spread of the virus, according to The Washington Post.

The private-sector information would reportedly be meta-data or statistics not connected to specific users but would help health experts map the spread of the virus, sources told the newspaper. 

The virus has now been reported in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. 

Despite the potential for the data to help with the coronavirus, implementing the plan could pose concerns about privacy and potential government overreach.

The idea is not unprecedented. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accessed cell-phone location data to track the movements of coronavirus patients, according to The New York Times.