WHO partners with Facebook, Microsoft, and other tech companies on #BuildforCOVID19 hackathon to develop software tackling COVID-19 challenges, starting Mar. 26
The hackathon is the developer-facing layer of that same push — WHO lending legitimacy and problem statements while Facebook and Microsoft contribute platforms. Its significance shows in what followed: an April roundup of chatbots, supercomputers, and hackathons across governments, then July's CTA Public Health Tech Initiative turning these ad hoc collaborations into a standing working group.
First-order effects
Developers get direct access to WHO-defined COVID-19 problems and the sponsoring companies' platforms starting Mar. 26, with Facebook and Microsoft positioned as the default infrastructure for any resulting tools.
Second-order effects
Government health agencies gain a pipeline of volunteer-built software on top of the Messenger and misinformation programs already running, deepening their dependence on these specific platforms for public-health communication.
Third-order effects
If the pattern holds — as the CTA's later working group with Microsoft and Facebook suggests — crisis-era hackathons and platform partnerships harden into permanent tech-public-health institutions, with a handful of large platforms as gatekeepers.
The trend: Emergency pandemic collaborations between governments and big tech are consolidating from one-off hackathons into standing public-health technology programs run by the major platforms.
Seeing a lot of omg-tech companies-were-hoarding-masks reactions over last few days. It's not even close to nefarious. California is constantly burning. Of course masks were stockpiled just in case. https://twitter.com/...
The @WHO has partnered with @Facebook, @Microsoft, @Twitter, @Pinterest, @SlackHQ, @tiktok_us, @WeChatApp, and @GIPHY for a hackathon to tackle the challenges related to the current coronavirus pandemic. #BuildforCOVID19 https://www.cnbc.com/...
We're calling for #devs to build locally and globally focused software solutions that drive social impact, tackling some of the challenges related to COVID-19. See Mark Zuckerberg's announcement for more info on our new online #hackathon: https://www.facebook.com/... #BuildforCOV…
As an industry, we can drive meaningful change at times like these. Twitter is proud to support the #COVID19 Global Hackathon alongside peers @Facebook @TikTok @Pinterest @GIPHY. Learn more and sign up here: https://covid-global-hackathon.devpost. com/ #BuildforCOVID19
The COVID-19 Global Hackathon is an opportunity for developers to build software to drive social impact and tackle challenges related to the current pandemic. With support from: @WHO @Microsoft @Facebook @Twitter & others in tech #BuildforCOVID19 https://covid-global-hackathon.de…
📣Calling all developers! We're excited to support the #COVID19 global hackathon. This is a great opportunity for developers to build software solutions to drive social impact. Learn more & sign up here: https://covid-global-hackathon.devpost. com/ #BuildforCOVID19 @Facebook @TikT…
Facebook is proud to support the #BuildforCOVID19 Global Hackathon along with @WHO, @Microsoft, @Twitter and others across the tech industry. More info here: https://covid-global-hackathon.devpost. com/
Designers and engineers, join @Facebook, @WHO @Microsoft, @Twitter and others across the tech industry for the #BuildforCOVID19 Global Hackathon. We're coming together to build tools to help tackle some of the challenges from #COVID19. More info here: https://covid-global-hackath…