Google and Apple Launch Highly Anticipated Contact Tracing Technology

Google and Apple said they have launched the Exposure Notification technology for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The technology is a software tool kit that would notify someone if they may have come in contact with a person that was diagnosed with COVID-19. The companies said the Exposure Notification has the specific goal of rapid notification, which is especially important to slow the spread of the disease with a virus that can be spread asymptomatically. In a joint release the duo said, “what we’ve built is not an app—rather public health agencies will incorporate the API into their apps that people install. Our technology is designed to make these apps work better. Each user gets to decide whether or not to opt-in to Exposure Notifications; the system does not collect or use location(s) from the device; and if a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, it is up to them whether or not to report that in the public health app. User adoption is key to success and we believe that these strong privacy protections are also the best way to encourage the use of these apps.” The companies first announced the contact tracing technology in April and it was a moment the world noticed as the two have been fierce rivals in the past. However, Apple and Google’s joint effort has been met with criticism specifically over both companies’ privacy rules surrounding the technology. Health o...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: COVID-19 Digital Health Source Type: news