(REUTERS): The tech giants, Apple and Google, are jointly developing contact tracing technology to alert people if they have recently come into contact with others found to be infected with the coronavirus.
According to details, their contact-tracing software would work by using a smartphone’s Bluetooth signals to determine to whom the owner had recently met.
If one of those people later tested positive for the deadly virus, a warning would be sent to the original handset owner. No GPS location data or personal information would be recorded.
In a joint statement, Apple and Google said, “Privacy, transparency and consent are of utmost importance in this effort,” adding, “We look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders,”.
The joint statement further said, “We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyse.”
The statement also stated that both the companies have started developing the technology two weeks ago to streamline technical differences between iPhones and Android that had stymied the interoperation of some existing contact tracing apps.
To be effective, Apple and Google would require millions of people to opt in the system, trusting the technology companies’ safeguards, as well as smooth oversight by public health systems.
In this regard, United States President Donald Trump has said that his administration needed time to consider the development.
He said, “It’s very interesting, but a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person’s freedom,” adding, “We’re going to take a very strong long at it, and we’ll let you know pretty soon.”
The European Union’s Data Protection Supervisor said, “The initiative will require further assessment, however, after a quick look it seems to tick the right boxes as regards user choice, data protection by design and pan-European interoperability.”
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