How the Coronavirus Changed the Internet
The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought both unexpected and anticipated changes to people’s lives worldwide. With many countries imposing quarantines, employees of numerous companies have had to switch to remote work, which has affected internet usage and performance. Beyond internet quality, significant changes have occurred in social networks, which have taken on the fight against misinformation and focused on keeping the public informed, as well as in streaming and other online services. Governments are now paying much closer attention to online trends—both positive and negative—enacting new internet regulations, and rapidly moving previously offline government services into the digital world.
Self-Organization and Volunteering Online
A positive trend has been the self-organization of internet users who have started volunteering to help the elderly. Through social networks, they coordinate educational efforts and deliver groceries and medicine to those in need.
The Spread of Misinformation and the Response of Tech Companies
At the same time, opportunists have emerged, seeking to profit or gain notoriety from the crisis. Numerous fake recommendations and misinformation about the epidemic have spread via social networks and email, causing waves of panic and distrust in medical professionals.
Major American companies—Facebook, Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube—issued a joint statement announcing their collaboration to combat misinformation about COVID-19. They stated: “We are working closely together on COVID-19 response efforts. We’re helping millions of people stay connected while jointly fighting fraud and misinformation about the virus, elevating authoritative content on our platforms, and sharing critical updates in coordination with government health agencies worldwide.” The companies also called on others to join these efforts to keep communities healthy and safe.
Twitter announced it would ban posts about COVID-19 that contain false information and could harm people. The company is revising its policies and will now ask users to delete posts that increase the risk of coronavirus infection. These include:
- Posts denying expert guidance
- Tweets encouraging the use of fake or ineffective treatments, prevention, or diagnostic methods
- Misleading information allegedly from trusted sources
- Content designed to coerce users into actions that benefit the poster (e.g., “the danger of coronavirus is exaggerated, go support your local bar” or “handwashing is just soap company propaganda, stop washing your hands”)
- Unverified information intended to cause panic (e.g., “the government has canceled food deliveries for two months, rush to the store and buy everything”)
The full list of prohibited tweets is available on Twitter’s official blog.
AI Moderation and Content Challenges
Due to quarantine measures, tech giants are experiencing disruptions in content moderation. With many employees working remotely, companies like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook are relying more on artificial intelligence (AI) to detect illegal or unethical content. While AI is not perfect and sometimes makes mistakes, the sheer volume of information and changes in company operations due to the pandemic make it necessary. The increase in medical and health-related posts has made it even more challenging, as AI may mistakenly flag legitimate information as false. Companies are warning users that their content may be incorrectly removed, but feedback channels remain open, though responses may be delayed. This situation is likely to drive further improvements in AI technologies.
For example, in March, UK-based DeepMind released AI-generated predictions of protein structures related to the coronavirus. These findings, which still require laboratory verification, were made available to the public to accelerate research during the epidemic.
Privacy Concerns and Surveillance Technologies
Some technologies, however, raise privacy concerns. Facial recognition systems, whose use is largely unregulated, have advanced rapidly. In China, where the pandemic began, new technologies can now identify people even when they are wearing masks. Moscow has also used such systems to track quarantine violators. While these technologies can help identify potential virus carriers, they also intrude on privacy and are not governed by clear laws.
Israel plans to use smartphone geolocation data to monitor people and notify those who have been near infected individuals, directing them to quarantine. Civil liberties organizations warn that such measures, while perhaps justified in emergencies, must have clear end dates to prevent them from becoming permanent.
Streaming Services and Internet Load
YouTube and Netflix have had to reduce video streaming quality in the EU to prevent network overload, as millions of Europeans work from home and watch more video content. YouTube’s default resolution is now 720×576 pixels, and Netflix has reduced traffic by about 25% for 30 days.
Online Marketplaces and Price Controls
AliExpress Russia has begun removing listings that exploit the coronavirus situation, such as overpriced medical masks. The company has asked sellers not to raise prices on medical and antiviral products, not to lower prices without quantity limits (to prevent reselling), and to avoid misleading claims about “miraculous” anti-coronavirus properties. AliExpress also announced it would waive commissions for new Russian sellers registering after March 31, making Russia the first country where such measures are implemented.
Impact on Conferences, Software Updates, and Internet Infrastructure
Worldwide, offline conferences, film premieres, and other events have been canceled. Some online activities have also been paused; for example, Google has suspended updates for Chrome and Chrome OS to focus on stability and security.
In Russia, the Ministry of Digital Development postponed planned internet resilience testing due to coronavirus measures. These tests, originally scheduled quarterly, are designed to ensure the security of mobile subscribers and assess the risks and vulnerabilities of smart devices, especially those used in critical infrastructure.
Device Sales and Remote Work
Apple has limited online iPhone sales to two devices per customer in several countries, including the US and China, to manage supply during the outbreak. In Russia, many office workers have switched to remote work, causing a surge in demand for home internet connections. Providers like MTS, Rostelecom, and VimpelCom have reported significant increases in new subscriptions, especially in residential areas, as some companies reimburse employees for internet costs. Network loads have shifted from business districts to residential neighborhoods, with peak usage now occurring during traditional work hours.
Online Services and Entertainment
Globally, there has been a rise in online food and service orders. PornHub, for example, offered free premium accounts to Italian users during the national quarantine, aiming to encourage people to stay home. The site also pledged to donate part of its March revenue from its ModelHub platform to Italian hospitals.
Italy has faced some of the strictest quarantine measures, with schools, universities, restaurants, bars, and most stores closed. People can only go out for essential needs, and Russia has closed its borders to Italian citizens since mid-March.
Free Access to Online Resources
Governments and telecom companies are working to provide free access to socially significant online resources. Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of this during a government meeting, highlighting the need for online access to medicines, distance learning, government services, and entertainment for families staying at home.
Some services have already responded. The Premier online cinema platform has made its original content free, while Okko launched a chatbot to provide a two-week subscription to users who prove they are staying home. Ivi is offering new users a subscription for 1 ruble from March 16 to April 15, 2020, and will expand its free content. Wink, owned by Rostelecom, is providing free access to Russian movies, series, and educational content. TVzavr is offering a three-month subscription to users who register and provide proof of medical leave, and Kinopoisk HD is giving free subscriptions to users without one until the end of April 2020.
Online Commerce and Legal Changes
Russia has also introduced measures affecting online commerce. President Putin recently signed a decree allowing the remote sale of over-the-counter medicines.
Conclusion
The pandemic has had a profound impact on the internet and modern technology worldwide. This underscores the critical importance of access to information, online services, and communication tools, which help people survive and unite in the fight against major challenges.