Israel to enshrine in law Shin Bet's coronavirus tracking

Israeli lawmakers are set to begin motion on controversial technology used to track confirmed virus carriers after High Court rules the tracking cannot continue otherwise
Itamar Eichner |
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Israeli government on Monday set to approve a motion that would enshrine in law the domestic security's tracking of cellphones belonging to confirmed virus carries, after the country's top court ruled the surveillance cannot continue otherwise.
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  • The High Court of Justice ruled Sunday that the Shin Bet’s tracking of COVID-19 patients cannot continue unless the government anchors the highly controversial practice into law.
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    מחסום משטרה
    מחסום משטרה
    A police checkpoint in Hadera
    (Photo: AP)
    However, the panel of three justices, led by Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut, granted the government an extension on condition that it begins the legislative process.
    The eventual law must allow journalists to protect their sources by preventing their cell phone data from being handed over to the Shin Bet, though the issue would be on a case-by-case basis, the court determined.
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     בג"ץ דן בהסכם הקואליציוני שנחתם בין הליכוד לכחול לבן
     בג"ץ דן בהסכם הקואליציוני שנחתם בין הליכוד לכחול לבן
    Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut
    (Photo: Oren Bne Hakun)
    The court ruling came following a number of petitions filed by rights groups against the tracking, which has been temporarily authorized under emergency orders as part of the efforts to curb coronavirus.
    Last Thursday, Knesset approved the continued use of the tracking technology until Tuesday.
    Defense and Foreign Affairs committee head MK Gabi Ashkenazi said that epidemiological investigations and testing should be broadened as an alternative to the Shin Bet tracking.
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    4.
    settler leader misguided
    dagan must be half asleep. bibi is not annexing anything. he will kiss trump's ass and concede a Palestinian state in return for minimal annexation. if Biden becomes president, bibi will run away from annexation. when he says he will annex, in my opinion, he is lying his teeth off. bibi has no guts to do this on his own. his track record shows clearly he lacks conviction and courage as begin had. he acts like a doormat for trump.thank you, Mr president, thank you, can i pour you a coffee. Dagan-open your eyes and stop believing anything bibi says.
    barry| 05.04.20
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    3.
    The Orwellian nightmare will continue, if you don't carry...
    your phone they will chip you, is that part of the law, if not it will be soon.
    05.04.20
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    2.
    What's the problem here
    What's the diffrence between Facebook and Google gathering information about their users? They know just as much - and unless you go off the grid - suck it up! It's a sign of the times - I think only people with something to hide get worried about this.
    Talula| 05.04.20
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