Forbes names fired Florida data scientist as tech person of the year
December 29, 2020 - Rebekah Jones, the former chief data scientist responsible for Florida’s Covid-19 tracking dashboard, was named technology person of the year by Forbes. Jones was fired in May. She has said she was let go after she raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency of Covid-19 data being reported by the state of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis said she added disputed data to the dashboard. Sh subsequently launched her own Covid tracking website. Earlier this month, state law enforcement officials raided Jones' home and seized her computer and phone, claiming that unauthorized access to the state’s emergency alert system was traced to an IP address associated with her account. Jones has denied that accusation. "Regardless, she is the latest technologist who stepped up to fill the vacuum left by governments during Covid-19," Forbes wrote.