Welcome to the thirteenth podcast in our series ‘Life in the Time of Coronavirus’. Here Ramon Amaro, Lecturer in the History of Art Department at UCL, discusses the development of algorithms by IT giants in relation to Covid 19. Amaro considers the logics by which these algorithms work, as well as the perceived need for massive data collection and rapid response. He also looks at the associated problems such as data accuracy, breaches of privacy, surveillance, the potential biopolitical uses of data in the aftermath of the pandemic and the interconnections between testing, trading and commerce.

Music: 'Surveillance' by Smallhaus. Sound effects by the BBC Sound Archive. ​​​

Speaker: Ramon Amaro (UCL)

Produced and edited by Albert Brenchat-Aguilar

Communications by Patricia Mascarell Llombart

Executive Producer: Tamar Garb