Apple and Google partner on Covid-19 contact tracing technology (apple.com)

Article summary

Apple and Google have partnered to develop COVID-19 contact tracing technology. The technology will use anonymous identifiers to track contacts between people, and will be implemented through updates to the iOS and Android operating systems. The goal is to help slow the spread of the virus by alerting people who have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive. The companies plan to make the technology available to health agencies and other developers.

Main themes

• contact tracing
• COVID-19
• privacy
• surveillance
• public health
• civil liberties

What commenters say

• The contact tracing technology is a necessary measure to combat the spread of COVID-19, even if it means sacrificing some personal privacy.
• The technology is not truly private and could be used to compromise individual anonymity.
• The partnership between Apple and Google is a positive development, as it may help to ensure that the technology is implemented in a way that respects user privacy.
• Once the pandemic is over, it will be difficult to reverse the erosion of civil liberties that has occurred, including the implementation of contact tracing technology.
• The technology may not be effective unless it is widely adopted, which could be achieved through incentives or mandates.
• There are concerns that the technology could be used for purposes beyond contact tracing, such as surveillance or data collection.
• The implementation of contact tracing technology raises questions about the balance between public health and individual privacy.
• The use of contact tracing technology may become a condition for participating in certain activities or accessing certain spaces, such as public events or businesses.