Israel Begins Tracking And Texting Those Possibly Exposed To The Coronavirus
The move draws criticism over privacy, as concerns rise about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to stay in power.
Hundreds of Israelis were startled Wednesday by an unsolicited text message.
"Hello. According to an epidemiological investigation," it began, addressing each recipient by name. "You were near someone sick with the coronavirus. You must immediately isolate at home [14 days] to protect your relatives and the public. ... This information will be used only for this purpose and will be erased when no longer needed. Sincerely, public health services."
It's part of a sweeping new program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the country's Shin Bet domestic spy agency, usually tasked with monitoring Palestinian and Israeli extremists, to launch the cellphone
