Israeli government approves tracking coronavirus patients’ mobile phones

After much controversy, the Israeli government authorised the Israeli security service to track the cellphones of patients infected with coronavirus and those who were near them in the 14 days preceding their diagnosis. The tracking will monitor the infected patients’ routes and inform those around them via text message that they should check themselves and enter home quarantine. Before the tracking takes place, the security services will contact the patients and will ask them to give their cellphones willingly. If they refuse, security services will use forced tracking. The approval will be valid only during the coronavirus crisis and for 30 days, at the end of which the information will be entirely deleted. The security services will not be allowed to use the data for any other purposes, and it will only and immediately be given to the Health Ministry. The decision still needs to be approved by the Israeli parliament.