Patients critical of Russia virus tracking app

In an effort to contain coronavirus, authorities in Moscow have implemented strict digital control measures that critics say have unfairly fined residents who haven't violated any laws.

When Vlimir Perevalov isolated himself at home after experiencing coronavirus symptoms, he me a point of following all of regulations opted by city authorities.

He called his local hospital to update m on his symptoms and receive a test for coronavirus; he didn't leave apartment; and he downloed and installed Social Monitoring app on his smartphone - app Moscow authorities designed to keep track of coronavirus patients quarantining at home.

idea behind it is simple: app tracks one's location through GPS coordinates and sends push tifications at random times, requiring users to take selfies that prove y're at home. If app detects user leaving apartment, a fine of about 56 US dollars is issued.

Despite saying that he h diligently taken selfies as required by app and never left his house, Perevalov later discovered that he h received three fines at end of his quarantine.

"At first I was confused, because I couldn't understand why I h received fines. I didn't even kw that such fines exist", he said.

"n I thought: 'Why is this happening? I haven't even left my apartment.'"

Moreover, Perevalov says he still hasn't received tification for why he h been issued fines and says all attempts at contacting authorities to protest m have been igred.

According to testimonies of dozens of Moscow residents, his story is far from unique.

It is t first time authorities in Moscow, where 183,000 confirmed coronavirus infections account for almost half of Russia's caselo of 414,000, have turned to widely criticised tools in an effort to curb coronavirus outbreak.

In February, when Russia reported two virus cases, city officials ordered police raids and authorised use of facial recognition techlogy to track down Chinese nationals remaining in Moscow.

In April, Moscow City Hall introduced a system of passes in order to control movement of people within Russia's capital, which prompted crowds of people queuing at metro stations in close proximity to each or.

Social Monitoring was rolled out in early April, for mandatory use by people infected with virus or quarantining at home. requirement to install app was included in quarantine tifications medical workers have patients sign, but details on how to use it or what can le to a fine is usually provided.

Within over a month, Moscow authorities handed out an overwhelming amount of 54,000 fines - each worth roughly 56 US dollars, a total of 3 million US dollars - among app's almost 70,000 registered users.

Authorities insist fines are justified and have been issued to people who repeatedly violate quarantine regulations, but those who received fines say app is mired in glitches and flaws, and fines are handed out randomly and arbitrarily.

Ar high-profile case involved Irina Karabulatova, a bed-ridden university professor who hasn't left her apartment in a year and was issued two fines for t installing app.

After her story me national helines, her fines were cancelled and officials apologised to her.

"y only cancelled my fines because journalists stepped up for me as I have physical documents that prove that I objectively couldn't have me ( violations)", Karabulatova said.

"But what is going to happen to all or is a big question", she ded.

Outr mounted as more stories of arbitrary fines mushroomed on social media.

By end of May, Moscow authorities received over 2,500 complaints contesting fines, and more than 200 lawsuits have been registered by Moscow courts.

Three online petitions demanding to abolish app gared over 94,000 signatures.

Contesting fines so far has proved largely unsuccessful, said Leonid Solovyov, a lawyer with Apologia Protesta legal aid group who currently works with over 100 people fined in relation with Social Monitoring app.

What makes it more difficult is that those who received fines have to provide proof that y didn't do anything wrong, while authorities are basing fines merely on flawed data from app, lawyer pointed out.

"Some fines are indeed being overruled, but more I look, more I see that that's mostly done for show in most scandalous cases", Solovyov said.

In late May, City Hall anunced that it was cancelling 468 fines for failing to take a selfie with app, because in se cases app requested selfies during night time.

But human rights activists say that on top of triggering arbitrary fines, Social Monitoring intrudes into its users' privacy by gaining access to ir geolocation and cell phone data.

Tanya Lokshina, Associate Director for Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division, said that mobile tracking app sets a dangerous precedent.