Eighth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

In this study, AI based applications as a power technique produced by governmentality and the points where these applications come into contact with human life are discussed theoretically in the case of Turkey during the COVID-19 period. With the WHO’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, different countries started to implement different methods based on AI to control the spread of the epidemic and contact tracing. It is possible to say that an application called “Hayat Eve Sığar” is used in Turkey, which constitutes the sample of the study. The installation of this application, which is designed to prevent the spread of the epidemic and to track contact, is left to the “free will” of the people. When this application is installed, a 10-digit code called “HES-code” is given to the individual. The individual is subjectiveized by being reduced to the code. Although it is left to the “free will” of individuals, individuals cannot enter public spaces without a HES code. Beyond that, the application records this information retrospectively and prospectively, when and where the person was, where they went and who they were in contact with. contact tracing apps like HES can invade privacy and open a way for governments to collect data and mass surveillance inconsistent with civil liberties. As a matter of fact, this confidential information is made available to the system for the public’s health and in parallel, it is presented to the information of many government officials.