Emerging technology used in public health surveillance has increased tremendously in the past decade and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technologies such as surveillance video monitoring, facial recognition software, and artificial intelligence are used with increasing frequency in the name of preventing or containing diseases. These same technologies have been used by governments for uses other than public health surveillance in so-called “function creep.” Such uses can infringe upon individual autonomy and personal privacy. Ethical analysis during the COVID pandemic typically followed utilitarian analytical frameworks. This presentation uses a virtue ethics analysis of surveillance technologies emphasizing honesty, responsibility, and compassion. Utilitarian ethical analysis leads governmental actions to seek actions and use technologies that protect the most people, but do not necessarily benefit minority groups. Virtue ethics presents a firmer ground to protect the health of the community while safeguarding minority rights through its focus on the moral development and character formation of the public health professional, the individual, and the community. Lastly, a Christian reflection on such issues is examined. Ethical analysis of public health surveillance technologies must precede use of such technologies. A virtue ethics approach can assist in such analysis, supporting the health of the community while protecting the rights of the vulnerable.