Scientists warn government about speedy coronavirus app plans
4 years, 8 months ago

Scientists warn government about speedy coronavirus app plans

Dutch News  

The government needs to pay close attention to the social and legal impact of using apps to trace the spread of coronavirus, a group of 60 academics and experts say in an open letter to ministers. The cabinet says the use of an app to track and trace coronavirus patients will enable social distancing rules to be relaxed, while keeping a close eye on the spread of the disease. In particular, ministers must be sure the apps do not conflict with fundamental rights and freedoms, the academics say in their letter: ‘The use of technology to combat the coronavirus must be temporary, essential, proportional, controlled, transparent and voluntary.’ They also warn that the use of tracking apps for monitoring health is far-reaching and could set a precedent for post-crisis usage. Deadline The government had invited companies to share their views on developing an app before Tuesday at midday – a deadline which some developers said was ‘far too short’.

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History of this topic

Dutch government pauses coronavirus app over data leak fears
3 years, 8 months ago

Dutch government pauses coronavirus app over data leak fears

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch government has temporarily disabled its coronavirus warning app amid data privacy concerns for people who have the app installed on phones using the Android operating system. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced late Wednesday that the CoronaMelder app will stop sending warnings for 48 hours while the government checks if users’ data is secure. …

Dutch government pauses coronavirus app over data leak fears
3 years, 8 months ago

Dutch government pauses coronavirus app over data leak fears

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Dutch government has temporarily …

California’s new contact-tracing app: What you need to know
4 years, 1 month ago

California’s new contact-tracing app: What you need to know

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom has announced a voluntary smartphone app to alert people if they were in close contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. Called CA Notify, the app relies on a tech framework created by Apple and Google that uses Apple and Android phones’ short-range Bluetooth radios to determine when two devices have been near one another for …

EU to link national COVID-19 tracing apps together
4 years, 2 months ago

EU to link national COVID-19 tracing apps together

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The European Commission on Monday …

Health service GGD had doubts about government's coronavirus app
4 years, 2 months ago

Health service GGD had doubts about government's coronavirus app

NL Times  

Health service GGD for a long time had doubts about the CoronaMelder app, developed by the government to track close contacts so that they can be notified in case of a Covid-19 exposure. The health service warned the Ministry of Public Health against launching the app too quickly, NOS reports based on internal documents obtained through the Freedom of Information …

Several months behind schedule, the Dutch coronavirus app goes nationwide
4 years, 2 months ago

Several months behind schedule, the Dutch coronavirus app goes nationwide

Dutch News  

The Dutch coronavirus tracing app was introduced across the country on Saturday, following last week’s senate vote in favour of using the alert-based system. The CoronaMelder app, first mooted in early April, will warn users if they have spent 15 minutes or more in close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus – as long as they have …

Several months behind schedule, the Dutch coronavirus app goes nationwide
4 years, 2 months ago

Several months behind schedule, the Dutch coronavirus app goes nationwide

Dutch News  

The Dutch coronavirus tracing app was introduced across the country on Saturday, following last week’s senate vote in favour of using the alert-based system. The CoronaMelder app, first mooted in early April, will warn users if they have spent 15 minutes or more in close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus – as long as they have …

Coronavirus news: Latest updates as UK cases hit highest daily total
4 years, 3 months ago

Coronavirus news: Latest updates as UK cases hit highest daily total

The Independent  

✕ Close Boris Johnson warns ‘things will be tough’ as furlough scheme replaced Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our …

As Europe faces 2nd wave of virus, tracing apps lack impact
4 years, 3 months ago

As Europe faces 2nd wave of virus, tracing apps lack impact

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mobile apps tracing new COVID-19 …

Meal delivery workers urged to download coronavirus app ‘to prevent infections’
4 years, 4 months ago

Meal delivery workers urged to download coronavirus app ‘to prevent infections’

Dutch News  

Health ministry officials have put pressure on meal delivery workers to download the government’s coronavirus tracing app, the NRC reported on Wednesday. The ministry has written to the delivery workers’ union NLVVM requesting that the organisation ask its members to ‘download the app, so that undesirable infections can be prevented’, the paper said. The writer of the email also stresses …

New setback delays nationwide launch of corona 'track and trace' app
4 years, 4 months ago

New setback delays nationwide launch of corona 'track and trace' app

Dutch News  

The Dutch coronavirus app CoronaMelder will not go live on September 1 as planned because the emergency law authorising its use is still waiting to go through parliament. Health minister Hugo de Jonge confirmed in a letter to MPs that the app, seen as a key element of the government’s coronavirus strategy, would not be active despite more than a …

India: Health workers alarmed over ‘black holes’ in COVID-19 apps
4 years, 4 months ago

India: Health workers alarmed over ‘black holes’ in COVID-19 apps

Al Jazeera  

Health officials and lawyers have expressed worry about unclear terms on issues like data retention and sharing. Many of India’s state apps were launched even as the central government brought out its coronavirus contact-tracing app Aarogya Setu, or “Health Bridge”, in early April, which has been downloaded by more than 152 million people, according to the National Informatics Centre. “While …

Dutch privacy watchdog says coronavirus app still needs work
4 years, 4 months ago

Dutch privacy watchdog says coronavirus app still needs work

Dutch News  

Dutch privacy watchdog AP has told the health ministry not to press ahead yet with its coronavirus tracking app, because various questions still remain about security and personal data controls. The app is part of a system and all other parts of that system should deal properly with privacy as well.’ Use of the app should also be regulated in …

UK Begins Testing a New App to Fight Covid-19 Spread
4 years, 4 months ago

UK Begins Testing a New App to Fight Covid-19 Spread

News 18  

Britain started testing a new smartphone app Thursday to help people find out whether they've been close to someone infected with COVID-19 after security concerns torpedoed an earlier effort to use technology to track the disease. The Department of Health and Social Care said that trials of the app began on the Isle of Wight, with testing in the London …

Coronavirus UK: Tracking app dropped for Apple and Google tech
4 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus UK: Tracking app dropped for Apple and Google tech

Daily Mail  

Matt Hancock tonight insisted Britain will eventually get a Covid-19 tracking app that works after ministers abandoned NHS-made technology following its failure in a trial on the Isle of Wight. Baroness Dido Harding, who is in charge of test and trace, today revealed the NHS's app did not work on iPhones The app developed by the NHS didn't work for …

Coronavirus: ‘Many unnecessary deaths’ risked by lifting lockdown before contact tracing system effective, scientists warn
4 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus: ‘Many unnecessary deaths’ risked by lifting lockdown before contact tracing system effective, scientists warn

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government is risking “many unnecessary deaths” by lifting lockdown before …

Privacy fears over COVID apps by Bahrain, Kuwait, Norway
4 years, 6 months ago

Privacy fears over COVID apps by Bahrain, Kuwait, Norway

Al Jazeera  

Live tracking of users’ locations puts thousands of people at risk, Amnesty International says. Amnesty International has raised privacy and security concerns over “invasive” contact-tracing apps rolled out by Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The UK-based rights group said on Tuesday an investigation into COVID-19 apps being used by 11 countries had rated Bahrain’s “BeAware Bahrain”, …

Opinion sharply divided about using an app to trace coronavirus cases
4 years, 7 months ago

Opinion sharply divided about using an app to trace coronavirus cases

Dutch News  

There is sharply divided support for a coronavirus tracing app among the Dutch and only one third say they would download it without question, according to research carried out by Delft, Maastricht and the VU universities. A further one third of the random sample of 926 people who took part in the research said they had doubts about using an …

Dutch divided on coronavirus tracking app
4 years, 7 months ago

Dutch divided on coronavirus tracking app

NL Times  

The Netherlands population is almost evenly divided on the use of an app to track who was in touch with someone diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to a survey by public health institute RIVM and Dutch universities among a representative group of 926 Dutch. Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health previously said that at least 60 percent of the …

Coronavirus: Government’s contact tracing app could ‘exacerbate health inequalities’
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus: Government’s contact tracing app could ‘exacerbate health inequalities’

The Independent  

Only half of manual workers, the unemployed and state pensioners say they will download the government’s contact tracing app, according to a new survey, sparking fresh concerns that the system could exacerbate health inequalities. Adam Steventon, director of data analytics at the Health Foundation, said: “The NHS contact tracing app could play a critical role in the fight against Covid-19, …

Coronavirus | Enforcing lockdown indefinitely too disruptive, say public health experts
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus | Enforcing lockdown indefinitely too disruptive, say public health experts

The Hindu  

A group of public health experts, two of whom are part of a government-constituted advisory committee to contain the pandemic, has said enforcing the lockdown “indefinitely” would be too disruptive and “overtake lives saved due to lockdown mediated slowing of COVID-19 progression.” “Had the migrant persons been allowed to go home at the beginning of the epidemic when the disease …

Aarogya Setu app is now open source: what does it mean?
4 years, 7 months ago

Aarogya Setu app is now open source: what does it mean?

The Hindu  

Aarogya Setu, India’s coronavirus contact-tracing and self-assessment app is now open source. Health Ministry launches Aarogya Setu IVRS facility for those without smartphones The Aarogya Setu app is used on Android phones by 98% of the registered users, and the source code for the Android app is currently available on GitHub, a collaboration platform for software developers, where code can …

Coronavirus tracking app code unveiled; final version to come next month
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus tracking app code unveiled; final version to come next month

NL Times  

A beta version of the government-backed coronavirus tracking app has has been released to the public on Wednesday, with the final product being expected sometime in June, Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge confirmed on Wednesday. This follows nearly a month on from the government's appointment of a team of experienced developers to design the app, with the final product …

Canada to ramp up COVID-19 testing and tracing, working closely with Apple, Google on mobile app
4 years, 7 months ago

Canada to ramp up COVID-19 testing and tracing, working closely with Apple, Google on mobile app

Firstpost  

Canada’s total cases rose to 81,765 on Friday, and deaths were up less than 2 percent to 6,180. Canada will ramp up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as it gradually lifts restrictions and is working closely with Apple and Google on a mobile phone app to help, the prime minister said on Friday. In his daily news conference, Prime Minister …

Covid-19: Aarogya Setu needs legislative backing
4 years, 7 months ago

Covid-19: Aarogya Setu needs legislative backing

Hindustan Times  

The government’s decision to make the coronavirus tracking application, Aarogya Setu, mandatory in many spheres of life brings constitutional challenges such as the right to privacy of citizens. In 1996, in PUCL Vs Union of India, the Court formulated guidelines imposing substantive and procedural restraints, while holding that the right to privacy includes informational privacy and confidentiality. In the absence …

Google and Apple release technology to help with coronavirus contact tracing
4 years, 7 months ago

Google and Apple release technology to help with coronavirus contact tracing

ABC  

New technology that could help alert people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 is being tested to determine if it will work in Australia. Key points: Technology could help solve issues plaguing apps like COVIDSafe Technology could help solve issues plaguing apps like COVIDSafe App users who test positive would decide to notify people they …

Coronavirus: Government admits NHS app will not be ready for launch of contact tracing scheme
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus: Government admits NHS app will not be ready for launch of contact tracing scheme

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said: “What we are calling for is for the …

India follows China's lead to widen use of coronavirus tracing app
4 years, 7 months ago

India follows China's lead to widen use of coronavirus tracing app

India Today  

India is aggressively pushing a state-backed contact tracing app to fight the spread of COVID-19, raising fears that the world’s second-most populous nation is on its way to Chinese-style methods of high tech social control, says Reuters. It made India the world’s only democratic country to make the use of a contact tracing app mandatory for its citizens, according to …

Coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe now fully functional, Deputy Chief Medical Officer confirms
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe now fully functional, Deputy Chief Medical Officer confirms

ABC  

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has confirmed the Federal Government's coronavirus tracing app is now working after all states and territories signed up to allow its use. Key points: Health authorities nation-wide now have access to the app's data Health authorities nation-wide now have access to the app's data States and Territories have worked out privacy and security rules …

Corona apps well-intentioned but privacy concerns must be addressed
4 years, 7 months ago

Corona apps well-intentioned but privacy concerns must be addressed

India Today  

A massive data leak from the mobile phone-based Quarantine Monitoring System of the Madhya Pradesh government has sharpened the debate on privacy around the central government’s similar Aarogya Setu app. While the idea of such data platforms and mobile applications world-over is to disseminate useful information regarding the spread of cases in the neighbourhood to people and assist government agencies …

Coronavirus tracking app ready for beta testing by end May
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus tracking app ready for beta testing by end May

NL Times  

The Dutch government appointed a team of experienced developers to create its coronavirus tracking app and hopes to have the first version ready for beta testing by end May, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health said to parliament. The Ministry of Public Health decided to develop its own tracking app after a previous attempt to get such an app …

Surveillance system or Covid-19 tracker? Coronavirus tracing Aarogya Setu app raises privacy concerns in India
4 years, 8 months ago

Surveillance system or Covid-19 tracker? Coronavirus tracing Aarogya Setu app raises privacy concerns in India

Hindustan Times  

As India enters an extended coronavirus lockdown, the government is actively pursuing contact tracing to help control infections. In this Thursday, May 7, 2020 photo, an Indian man uses Aarogya Setu app on his mobile phone in New Delhi, India. In April, India launched the Aarogya Setu app, which helps people identify whether they have been near someone who tested …

With COVID-19 tracing apps comes privacy tradeoffs: Here's why you should be worried
4 years, 8 months ago

With COVID-19 tracing apps comes privacy tradeoffs: Here's why you should be worried

India TV News  

As governments around the world consider how to monitor new coronavirus outbreaks while reopening their societies, many are starting to bet on smartphone apps to help stanch the pandemic. “Governments and public health want to be able to track people” to minimize the spread of COVID-19, but people are less likely to download a voluntary app if it is intrusive, …

Can Australia's coronavirus contact tracing app COVIDSafe lift the country out of lockdown?
4 years, 8 months ago

Can Australia's coronavirus contact tracing app COVIDSafe lift the country out of lockdown?

ABC  

To speed up the process of contacting people who may have been exposed to coronavirus, the Federal Government is asking Australians to download its new COVIDSafe app. "If 40 per cent of people download the app, and if we're optimistic, half of those people are using it properly at all times — including having it running and open in the …

Here come COVID-19 tracing apps - and privacy trade-offs
4 years, 8 months ago

Here come COVID-19 tracing apps - and privacy trade-offs

Associated Press  

As governments around the world consider how to monitor new coronavirus outbreaks while reopening their societies, many are starting to bet on smartphone apps to help stanch the pandemic. “Governments and public health want to be able to track people” to minimize the spread of COVID-19, but people are less likely to download a voluntary app if it is intrusive, …

Coronavirus contact-tracing app could make 'privacy and rights another casualty of the virus', campaigners warn
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus contact-tracing app could make 'privacy and rights another casualty of the virus', campaigners warn

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The coronavirus contact-tracing app could make the UK's privacy "another casualty" of the …

App for one season: on Centre's directive to use Arogya Setu
4 years, 8 months ago

App for one season: on Centre's directive to use Arogya Setu

The Hindu  

The Centre’s national directive for the mandatory use of its contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu, as part of its COVID-19 combat measures, falls short of established legal standards for the protection of privacy. Going by the directive issued under the Disaster Management Act, all people residing in ‘containment zones’, all government and public sector staff and all employees, both public …

European virus tracing apps highlight battle for privacy
4 years, 8 months ago

European virus tracing apps highlight battle for privacy

Associated Press  

LONDON — Goodbye lockdown, hello smartphone. As governments race to develop mobile tracing apps to help contain infections, attention is turning to how officials will ensure users’ privacy. Some governments are backing the centralized model because it could provide more data to aid decisionmaking, but nearly 600 scientists from more than two dozen countries have signed an open letter warning …

Apple and Google show what their contact tracing system could look like
4 years, 8 months ago

Apple and Google show what their contact tracing system could look like

CNN  

San Francisco CNN Business — Apple and Google just provided a first look at how public health apps could use the coronavirus contact tracing software they are jointly developing. The two tech companies shared a series of images and guidelines on Monday for governments and public health authorities to integrate with their contact tracing apps, including how users will be …

Chief Medical Officer expects staged easing of coronavirus restrictions but wants physical distancing maintained
4 years, 8 months ago

Chief Medical Officer expects staged easing of coronavirus restrictions but wants physical distancing maintained

ABC  

The Chief Medical Officer says a greater uptake of the coronavirus tracing app will calm lingering concerns about containing the virus, and give leaders the ability to be more "bold" in easing restrictions. Key points: National Cabinet will assess easing some coronavirus restrictions later this week National Cabinet will assess easing some coronavirus restrictions later this week About a quarter …

Coronavirus app tracing capability not yet operational, despite 4 million downloads
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus app tracing capability not yet operational, despite 4 million downloads

ABC  

More than 4 million people have downloaded the COVIDSafe app, but the information it collects is not yet available to state and territory health officials. Key points: The app will not be fully functional until states and territories finalise data rules More than 4 million Australians have downloaded the app already App downloads will be a key discussion point when …

Majority would use a coronavirus tracing app, research shows
4 years, 8 months ago

Majority would use a coronavirus tracing app, research shows

Dutch News  

Over half the Dutch would be prepared to use an app to trace coronavirus infections if it met proper guarantees on privacy and security, the AD reported on Thursday. Young adults are the most likely to agree to use an app which would use bluetooth technology to alert them if they have been close to a coronavirus patient, the researchers …

Majority of Dutch willing to use safe coronavirus tracking app: study
4 years, 8 months ago

Majority of Dutch willing to use safe coronavirus tracking app: study

NL Times  

More than half of Netherlands residents are willing to install a coronavirus tracking app on their phone, provided that the app meets all privacy and security requirements, according to a study by Erasmus University in Rotterdam among a representative group of 900 Dutch people, AD reports. Teenagers and young adults in particular are willing to install an app that will …

Coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe released by Government to halt spread of COVID-19 in Australia
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe released by Government to halt spread of COVID-19 in Australia

ABC  

Australia's coronavirus tracing app, dubbed COVIDSafe, has been released as the nation seeks to contain the spread of the deadly pandemic. Key points: The COVIDSafe app will be voluntary for Australians to download The COVIDSafe app will be voluntary for Australians to download It traces only contact with other people who have the COVIDSafe app on their phone It traces …

COVIDSafe's effectiveness on iPhone in question as Government releases coronavirus contact tracing app
4 years, 8 months ago

COVIDSafe's effectiveness on iPhone in question as Government releases coronavirus contact tracing app

ABC  

The Government wants 40 per cent of Australians to use its contact tracing app COVIDSafe, but questions remain about the technology's performance on iPhone. Key points: If an iPhone is in low power mode, it reduces the background app refresh and may impact the ability to track contacts If an iPhone is in low power mode, it reduces the background …

Wary Germans hate sharing their data. Will they use a Covid-19 tracking app?
4 years, 8 months ago

Wary Germans hate sharing their data. Will they use a Covid-19 tracking app?

CNN  

London CNN Business — European governments are racing to develop apps that can track the spread of the coronavirus to prevent a second wave of infections when the economy reopens. “The skepticism of Germans in terms of data protection is remarkable when it comes to sharing data,” said University of Mannheim Professor Sebastian Siegloch, who has studied German attitudes toward …

A European Contact-Tracing App Might Be More Privacy-Invading Than Apple and Google’s
4 years, 8 months ago

A European Contact-Tracing App Might Be More Privacy-Invading Than Apple and Google’s

Slate  

This article is part of Privacy in the Pandemic, a Future Tense series. A number of scientists along with Apple and Google have proposed a “decentralized” approach to contact tracing that protects users’ privacy. Thus, the fundamental privacy guarantee of these “decentralized” systems hangs on two simple facts: Unless you’re positively diagnosed, your own pseudonyms will never leave the phone. …

Coronavirus outbreak: JU students developing app to disseminate genuine information on Covid-19 pandemic
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus outbreak: JU students developing app to disseminate genuine information on Covid-19 pandemic

India Today  

To combat misinformation on novel coronavirus, students of the Jadavpur University here are in the process of developing a mobile application to disseminate genuine data related to COVID-19, an educator of the institute said on Wednesday. Students working on 'infobank' mobile app from their homes: Eight final year post-graduate students of the computer science department are currently working on the …

Coronavirus tracing app given thumbs up by independent cyber security agency
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus tracing app given thumbs up by independent cyber security agency

ABC  

The head of an independent agency testing the security of the Government's new COVID-19 tracing app says she will be downloading it, adding that she is "comfortable" with what she has seen so far. Ms Falk said the data would be stored only on a person's handset, unless they tested positive, and was "only designed to be accessed by health …

Decision on coronavirus app to take more time; Privacy still a concern
4 years, 8 months ago

Decision on coronavirus app to take more time; Privacy still a concern

NL Times  

It will be a while yet before the government decides which of seven apps demonstrated at a so-called "appathon" over the weekend will be used to track who coronavirus patients had contact with. Each of the app designs presented on Saturday and Sunday still have flaws that first need to be worked out, Ministry of Public Health official Erik Gerritsen …

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