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Will you download the contact tracing app?

jetsonx

I know privacy is very important to people but I fear that drastic times call for drastic measures.

Let's say the Irish Government introduced a smartphone app tomorrow to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The app would record all your movements and triage the data against the movements of those infected with COVID-19. An app which could save thousands of lives.

Would you allow this app to be installed on your smartphone?

(The data would be solely used by health authorities)

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Comments

fly_agaric

plodder wrote: »

They were talking about the app on Newstalk the other day and did a Vox pop. One young person said she wouldn't download it because she didn't want to be "tracked". It will be a challenge to overcome these misconceptions.

^^Very true.

There seems to me to be a suspicion about the state "knowing" things about citizens here & assumptions of the worst of motives that erupt every so often.
It is (IMO) easy to stoke up among the public.

It will be very unfortunate if that happens with this application. I think it could be a help controlling outbreaks of the virus & keeping us in a more "normal" situation later in the year/next year if it works as advertised and is widely adopted.

I just hope people will buy in/believe using it is worthwhile (as they obviously do with facebook, google etc which are collecting far more personal data about them every day in exchange for use of their services with barely a whimper).

poff

According to the published documentations, the app is not supposed to make identifiable data available to anybody. As the source code is available, I would be very surprised if it did not as promised. I don't think, the HSE could afford to be dishonest about the workings of the app. I am not easily convinced and like to give out if I suspect things not quite right...

The app is not using and can not use GPS as google and apple would not allow it. This is the tracking out of the way. If one has not to register, then there is no identification possible. They could use the IP address to see who you are but they (HSE/GOV) promised that the IP addresses are not stored. Phone numbers, if given, are stored until used for the sms code or the callback. If one wants a callback, one has not to worry about the HSE knowing the phone number as you gave it to them

. But even when you enter it into the app, it does not leave until your are suspected infected - if I remember correctly. And compared to facebook and the likes, the app is definitely safe.

I can not read the source code, I don't understand programming and neither I can verify that the app corresponds with the source code. I'll leave that to some professionals.

Did I change my mind about installing it? Most likely even I am not one of those who needs to use public transport. I keep thinking that I am ok but the reality is, that we all keep forgetting about the virus and I might be too close for too long one day. Then the app could help to keep others safe.

bloodless_coup

https://www.newstalk.com/news/new-contact-tracing-app-cost-e850000-develop-1038851

€850,000 to develop. What a waste of money.

ExMachina1000

No I won't be downloading the app

poff

bloodless_coup wrote: »

https://www.newstalk.com/news/new-contact-tracing-app-cost-e850000-develop-1038851

€850,000 to develop. What a waste of money.

Why a waste of money?

Gael23

No, huge invasion of privacy. Amazed it was approved by Data Protection

mirrormatrix

Would you like to explain how a completely anonymised app is a "huge invasion of privacy"?

No-one, not the government, nor the people you come into contact with, get any of your personal information.

[Deleted User]

Gael23 wrote: »

No, huge invasion of privacy. Amazed it was approved by Data Protection

Feel free to give us your technical explanation of this. Source code is freely available on Github if you so wish to take a look.

poff

mirrormatrix, circadian,

I guess, neither you nor me will get an answer. Funny that posts get a thanks like this one:

No, huge invasion of privacy. Amazed it was approved by Data Protection

What for? There is no explanation whatsoever for a statement that is untrue. No point of thinking about this, it is a waste of energy

When is the app supposed to be released?

plodder

ExMachina1000 wrote: »

No I won't be downloading the app

Why not, do you mind me asking?

Miike

Gael23 wrote: »

No, huge invasion of privacy. Amazed it was approved by Data Protection

Care to expand on that point?

ExMachina1000

plodder wrote: »

Why not, do you mind me asking?

Sure no problem. I won't be downloading the app because I dont want to.

plodder

mirrormatrix wrote: »

Would you like to explain how a completely anonymised app is a "huge invasion of privacy"?

No-one, not the government, nor the people you come into contact with, get any of your personal information.

Nor google or apple, it should be pointed out. People tend to assume that when google is collecting data on your device, they must be tracking you, but with this app, they are not.

fly_agaric

plodder wrote: »

Nor google or apple, it should be pointed out. People tend to assume that when google is collecting data on your device, they must be tracking you, but with this app, they are not.

Yes, that is good, they appear to have developed api as a public service/charity effort in fairnesss to them.
Google have their Maps application (Apple have an equivalent) so don't need anything else when it comes to getting a good insight into where their users & customers go and what they get up to!

plodder

I wonder what the delay is. It's been reported as ready to go for over a week now.

seligehgit

plodder wrote: »

I wonder what the delay is. It's been reported as ready to go for over a week now.

The app will launched tomorrow.

Great news.

ExMachina1000

I have made the choice not to download the app.

Just heard both Michael Martin and Stephen Donnelly speaking on covid and other related issues.

Varadkar and Harris did it better

alentejo

Dont think I will download. Dont like the idea of centralized control of data

MickeyLeari

App is in the Apple App Store.

igCorcaigh

It seems that the Apple version of the app is not available for international users. Can't be used then by visitors?

XsApollo

What’s it called

Away With The Fairies

While I like the idea of the app, it's just an extra measure and they have been half arsed with everything else that they done around covid. So I don't see this working all that well.

rubberdungeon

XsApollo wrote: »

What’s it called

https://covidtracker.gov.ie/

igCorcaigh

XsApollo wrote: »

What’s it called

Covid tracker Ireland

https://twitter.com/adrianweckler/status/1280247575963197441?s=19

igCorcaigh

Just downloaded it for Android.
On the play store now.

Delta2113

Can an Employer force you to download this even though it's supposed to be optional?

WoollyRedHat

Delta2113 wrote: »

Can an Employer force you to download this even though it's supposed to be optional?

No how could they?

spookwoman

Delta2113 wrote: »

Can an Employer force you to download this even though it's supposed to be optional?

Might be if its a business phone

[Deleted User]

Just downloaded it but the contact tracing setup seems to be broken as you can’t do it.

Assetbacked

I downloaded it there (Android and Huawei phone so data protection concerns are minimal from me in general), I'm back heading into my office the last 3 weeks and also out and about in shops and pubs. As they say, the more that use it the more effective our tracing will be and it is part of an arsenal of measures which will ensure no lockdown is needed again.