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Comment by ferros | Hacker News Reader

The real question is, after this all dies down, will these apps be repurposed and become the new normal?

Yes, that is the plan.

> Registering on Aarogya Setu will be mandatory for all new smartphones before they can be set up and used, government sources told News18 earlier today. According to officials with knowledge of the matter, the government of India is making it mandatory for all new smartphones to be sold in India post lifting of the lockdown to not just have the app as a pre-installed service, but also ensure that individuals register on it and set it up, before beginning to use their new smartphones.

https://www.news18.com/news/tech/aarogya-setu-registration-w...

You betcha!

How much would you be willing to bet on this?

All the historical data of governments taking "emergency powers" and not letting them go afterwards.

Let me rephrase, how much are you willing to bet that this app will be mandatory to be installed after the Covid crisis is over?

I am not a gambler, but let's say $5 if you really wish to get money involved. Or a bottle of scotch.

(I am Indian and live in India fwiw) How about 10k Rs to be donated to the winner's favorite charity? How about 1 January 2022 as a settlement date? If the app is still mandatory on that date, I win, else you do.

I will gladly take you up on that :) Bonus that whoever wins, money goes to a charity too.

Done!

"Never waste a crisis."

Something, something, Patriot Act

I don’t disagree with you. What are some historical instances of this that I can read up on?

The most significant, perhaps, was the aftermath of Reichstag fire [1]. What happened after that, we all know.

[1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire

France having declared a state of emergency like 2+ years ago, and not lifting it until COVID-19 made it even less questionable to the public?

I’m sure the app will be turned into the new “Healthy India” app with some name in Hindi that praises the Prime Minister and add many more “services” to entangle more people in its dragnet surveillance scheme.

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