TCN Coalition and the privacy-first, decentralized, exposure notification movement
Numerous exposure notification systems have emerged globally, offering varied levels of privacy. The demand for contact tracing is increasing in the US as states begin to reopen, making this the critical moment to push for a privacy-first, secure, exposure notification system. Without adequate privacy standards and planning, tracking efforts can imperil our privacy and online safety.
The TCN Coalition provides the forum and structure for developers and public health agencies to align on a secure protocol, making it possible for emerging apps to cross-communicate with each other. Now, no matter where you are or which app you choose to use, you can access the entire digital exposure notification network, anonymously.
In China, residents are required to install an app and scan QR codes that have been placed in taxis and at the entrances of buildings, buses, and subway stations. In the EU, the PEPP-PT offers a less intrusive, somewhat private, centralized approach, having been created to “assist national initiatives”. There are also decentralized privacy-preserving systems, such as the DP-3T or the Apple-Google project, with contact-tracing data retained only on the user’s device.
With such variety across systems, Jenny Wanger, Andreas Gebhard, and Harper Reed quickly saw an opportunity to increase visibility and communication across the ecosystem, so teams could work smarter and deliver solutions quickly. They partnered with a variety of exposure notification projects to create the TCN Coalition, a “coalition of technologists that share a common desire to implement privacy-first, decentralized, anonymous, open-source digital exposure notification and alerting apps”.
Through the coalition, they’ve created consensus across the ecosystem, and developed an early shared protocol to be used across projects. By implementing the same secure protocol, it’s possible for different apps to cross-communicate with each other, ensuring that no matter where you are or which app you choose to use, you can access the entire digital exposure notification network, anonymously.
Now that Apple and Google have launched their own shared protocol, the TCN Coalition has pivoted to “focusing on solving remaining challenges, like the ability [for agencies] to run various apps while still being able to send reports across borders, a critical piece of re-enabling travel in the future”.
Critically important is that TCN connects exposure notification developers with public health agencies, providing the bridge between the solution and the user. If you are a public health agency, TCN would like to contact them.
With states reopening in the US, and two-thirds of Americans willing to install a tracking app, many are seizing this critical moment to push for a secure, digital, exposure notification system, with the back end technology that supports a network of emerging apps. The TCN Coalition provides the communication channels, structure, and coordination between developers and, importantly, between the developers and those in need.
We’re glad TCN is a C19 Coalition partner. Partners are working on every part of the problem: supply, demand, fulfillment, logistics, funding, and information tracking. Learn about us and join our directory of organizations.
