Apple and Google partner historic to help stem the spread of COVID-19

Companies unite to develop contact tracking technology with COVID-19 between Android and iOS

The current scenario that we are all facing is an indication for our generation, as well as the vast choice of technologies at our disposal. Day after day we discover and learn a way to overcome the side effects caused by COVID-19 coronavirus.

This Friday, the 10th, Apple and Google announced a historic partnership. Aligned in focus to pool efforts and resources to combat COVID-19 (Apple joined this week America Food Fund along with Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs, as well as donating billions of dollars around the world, masks and much more on the way), the technology giants proposed the creation of graphical interface and APIs single, for Android and iOS. The resources are available to the governments of the countries to implement the technologies.

Through the use of technology Bluetooth, present in all smartphones, the application, running in the background, would capture connections around in a radius of up to 15 meters without a barrier to notify you if that subject is infected with the coronavirus or has recently been with someone who is contaminating.

The companies demonstrated their considerations:

Worldwide, governments and health officials are working together to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people and bring society back to normal. Software developers are contributing to the creation of tools to help fight the virus and save lives. In this spirit of collaboration, Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort, using Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies to slow the advance of the virus, with the privacy and security of the user as central points.

Since COVID-19 can be transmitted to people by proximity, public health officials have realized that contact tracking is a valuable tool to contain the spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities and prominent NGOs around the world have done an important job in developing optional contact tracking technologies. In support of this cause, Apple and Google will launch a complete solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system technology to assist in contact tracking. Given the urgency, the plan is to implement this solution in two stages, preserving solid safeguards around user privacy.

Official announcement – Apple and Google

The CEO of Apple Tim Cook and the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai also made their announcements for Twitter:

Several questions regarding privacy were immediately lifted. Apple, Google and governments would not only have access to the user's GPS data, but would also know who is close to him and his personal history with the coronavirus. The companies made it clear, however, that the appeal was optional.

The expectation that the development of multiplatform resources will start by the month of May, with frequent iterations in sequence. For the time being, it has not been disclosed when and if such technology will be made available Brazil.

Traffic of people on the streets before the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemicPeople walking the streets

For technical information about the features, Apple and Google published their documentation. A second new page was created by Apple to reinforce its commitment to privacy. The very WHO, World Health Organization, already brings the article on its official website about the technology.

All of us at Apple and Google believe that there has never been a more important time to work together to solve one of the most pressing problems for the planet. Through cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to exploit the power of technology to help countries around the world to slow the progress of COVID-19 and accelerate the return to everyday life.

Print Advisory – Apple and Google

More information will be released by the companies in the coming weeks.

China already uses tracking technology to monitor the progress of COVID-19

Recently, in the beginning of March when the pandemic gained worldwide coverage, China adopted a similar strategy to keep people safe. Through the application Alipay Health Code, created by the Chinese giant Alibaba, the Chinese government started monitoring citizens' health, being classified by green, yellow or red flags, to control where and when the person was. The government defends the use of the application as a key to prevent and control epidemics.

Metro security does analysis, in Hangzhou, China, checking cell phones while helping a gentleman activate their app Alipay Health Code. Everyone needs a green QR code to pass. (Video by Paul Mozur)

After the user accepts the terms and conditions of the application, their data (such as name, location and number of documents) are sent to the authorities through a file called reportInfoAndLocationToPolice or send information and location to the Police. Along with sending the data, whenever the application is scanned using the flag that displays a QR code as shown in the example below, its location will also be stored on the system servers. This would make it possible to fully trace the citizen's pathways by the government.

Example of QR codes, such as those used in China systemsTest QR codes through your cell phone camera

Such a concern can be extremely important for us Westerners. However, the Chinese government has full control over data traffic in its territory, and issues related to privacy and freedom, such as Civil Framework of the Internet or debates about Network Neutrality, are not allowed for the population.

During the announcement, Apple and Google assured that “privacy, transparency and consent are of utmost importance in this effort“.

Earlier, Apple posted on its YouTube channel a special video to remind us that, even during the quarantine and social isolation and distance, creativity continues.

References: Apple Newsroom, Google Blog and The New York Times.

Future iPhones would have...
© istanbulun2yakasi