 The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology, but it has also exposed a number of cyber-vulnerabilities, say professors Laura Dinardis and Jennifer Daskell of American University. Let's start with censorship. Local censorship can have global ramifications. Had the doctor in Wuhan, China who spotted the outbreak been able to speak freely, public health authorities might have been able to do more to contain it early. China is not alone. Another world lives in countries that impose controls on what can and cannot be said about their governments online. Disinformation online. Social media can be an effective tool for sharing accurate information, but it's also a source of disinformation and manipulation. For example, Facebook has banned ads selling face masks or false preventions and cures, while giving the World Health Organization unlimited ad space. COVID-19 warns us of the costs and the politics of disinformation, and it highlights the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in confronting these. Cyber security. Thousands of other businesses and institutions have adopted to work from home policies during this pandemic, a great benefit of technology. At the same time, that shift is a reminder that businesses need strong encryption, reliable networks, and effective cyber defenses. Cyber insecurity is also a threat to public health. For example, ransomware attacks can disrupt entire medical facilities. The Internet of Things. Internet enabled smart blood pressure monitors and other medical devices make it easier for people to manage their health at home, but those benefits disappear when digitally connected devices are attacked. Think back to 2016 when the Mirai Botnet targeted webcams and brought down parts of the internet on the East Coast. The tech supply chain. The shutdown of Chinese factories because of the pandemic interrupted the supply of critical parts to many industries, including the U.S. tax sector. It shows that even if the virus had never traveled outside China, it would have had global ramifications. As the next phase of the pandemic responds unfolds, society will be grabbing with more and more difficult questions about the Internet and how it relates to personal freedom in public health.