Covidiots as Global Acceleration of Local Surveillance Practices

Abstract

On a global scale, the COVID-19 pandemic compels civilians to drastically alter their conduct and to remain vigilant about the conduct of those around them. As cases spiked, the term covidiot emerged to capture a range of newly transgressive behaviors. Open denunciation of covidiots has become a prominent appeal from governments, with the mayor of Amsterdam instructing the public to report house parties and other novel infractions. In both public venues and the private sphere, politicians, journalists, and other influential figures urged their audiences to watch over and report behavior that was deemed to be a public health risk. While such calls normally provoke controversy, they now encounter less friction among civilians. Here, Trottier et al discuss the forms of convergence of the current public health monitoring.