The World Health Organization has introduced a major overhaul of its global monitoring network, unveiling an AI-powered platform that tracks online conversations and media activity in real time.
Known as Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources 2.0 (EIOS), the system is being presented as a new step in “pandemic preparedness,” but its reach extends well beyond disease surveillance.
The upgrade is part of a growing merger between health monitoring, digital tracking, and centralized information control.
Developed with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the new version of EIOS is designed to scan the internet for signals of emerging health threats.
According to the WHO, it now automatically analyzes social media posts, websites, and other public sources to detect possible outbreaks.