The COVID-19 pandemic brings out many forms of social, economic, political, and even environmental vulnerabilities. In many ways, the pandemic revealed the fragility of modern technological civilisation. This article analyses the tension between issues of care and technical responses in the pandemic context. The theoretical background relies on Joan Tronto theory of care and on Jacques Ellul conception of "technic system" which is characterized by its efficiency, speed, automatization and autonomy. Even if many governments have recognized how care giving (health, education, community service) is fundamental for a society, they have largely chosen technical solutions to maintain economical activities. The intensification of the digital turn had major impacts on higher education, arts and cultural production, work and democracy. Using many examples, this article shows how technical solutions short-circuit human relations - essentially relation of care (care about, caring for, care with each other) - that are specific to these activities, therefore inducing dehumanization, more inequalities and social exclusion.