Apple and Google are launching a joint COVID-19 tracing tool for iOS and Android

[SynoMan]

Apple and Google are launching a joint COVID-19 tracing tool for iOS and Android

I think you can opt-out for that.

 

[fredbert]

Does this all rely on the honesty and integrity of the person that "has symptoms" to only raise the alert "when they have symptoms" and not "when drunk" or "it'll be a laugh"?

Since the impact of raising an alert will be for others, known and unknown, to take protective isolation actions then the mis-use of alerts could have serious consequences. Not least if/when they finally are infected and try to tell their boss, it could be the "that's the third grandmother's funeral this year" situation.

 

[SynoMan]

Apple and Google Announced a Coronavirus Tracking System. How Worried Should We Be? | News & Commentary | American Civil Liberties Union

A well-designed tool could offer public health benefit, but a poorly designed one could pose unnecessary and significant risks to privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

www.aclu.org

 

[Danabw]

This sounds good to me overall, an opt-in approach and contact vs, location based.

 

[Telos]

Even if I turn off location services, or opt-out sharing my location, contacts, history... who really knows whether those choices are ignored. It's like the office thermostat that everyone tweaks, but which is unconnected to the HVAC control system. Can we actually believe Apple/Google/Microsoft/Facebook/etc., etc?

This is akin to those knee-jerk "think of the children" campaigns to rid the world of unassailable encryption. Humbug.

 

[Danabw]

I say tomato, you say tomato.

Each of us can choose based on our level of concern, and personal priorities,

 

[fredbert]

I write potato, you write potatoe (Mr. Vice President) 🤣

 

[Danabw]

Just have to LOL, @fredbert, thanks for my morning chortle.

 

[Micky]

I'm sure they won't include Facebook, Twitter and their own trackers, for privacy reasons, right?

 

[Telos]

Fair musings...

6 make-or-break questions about Google and Apple's COVID-tracking tech

Nearly a week after an unlikely tech team-up, some critical questions remain.

www.computerworld.com