And one of the most ambitious efforts by technology companies to help fight the pandemic – the effort by Apple and Google to develop digital contract tracking standards – have largely failed amid the lack of coordination between states and the absence of federal guidelines under Trump.
Amazon received criticism from the right on the idea that the company waited until Biden was sworn in to offer his help, an idea that Amazon vehemently rejected, saying it offered logistical help in the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, but was “redirected for the states ”.
Other complications can make it difficult for even the most praised companies in Silicon Valley to make rapid gains in front of vaccines.
For example, strict federal contractual obligations designed to reduce fraud and waste, such as long and required paperwork, can slow the pace of technology companies’ vaccine efforts.
In the meantime, the federal government needs to be concerned about equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccine among racial, geographic and other demographic groups.
Even so, companies are eager to show that they have the logistics and know-how to help.
Dave Clark, an Amazon executive widely credited with building the company’s delivery apparatus, sent a letter to Biden on opening day offering his highly praised skills with distributing packages across the country, saying: “We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology and communication and experience skills. “
Amazon spokesman Jodi Seth confirmed that the company is talking to the Biden government about the launch of the vaccine.
“We are committed to helping governments with vaccination efforts as we work together to protect our workers and continue to provide essential services during the pandemic,” said Seth.
Some critics fear that Amazon’s offer to help is an attempt to grab a role in public health work that it may not be willing to give up post-pandemic. And Amazon is a frequent target of those who pressure Biden from the left to assume, as president, the hard line on Silicon Valley that he promised as a candidate. Biden promised to be “the most pro-union president,” for example, at a time when Amazon workers complain about the company’s treatment and are pushing to organize.
The White House emphasized that it is talking to a number of companies, in all sectors, about contributing to efforts to combat the pandemic.
And for technology, the response to the pandemic is not just about delivering vaccines. Management said it is also talking to social media platforms about tackling online misinformation about the new coronavirus vaccine.
This while Biden was particularly vocal about social media companies, arguing that his behavior is so blatant that companies no longer deserve the shield of responsibility known as Section 230. When asked last week about what Biden planned to do about extremism in the United States, White House press secretary Jen Psaki pointed to the president’s openness about “the role of hate speech on social media platforms.”
Facebook – which claims to have also approached the Biden government for assistance – announced in early February that it will crack down on misinformation about vaccines, including giving $ 120 million to public health officials.
Airbnb is promoting its geographic reach. Shortly after Inauguration Day, the company offered to identify homes that could serve as vaccine distribution points in places with few pharmacies or other permanent health care facilities.
Chris Lehane, an Airbnb executive and former Clinton administration official, said in a statement that the company could play a role “similar to what we have done historically in terms of working with our hosts across the country, which they have opened again and again their homes in times of need. “