Apple and Google Officially Introduce ‘Exposure Notification’
Last month, tech majors Google and Apple joined hands to introduce Coronavirus contact tracing technology, which was later called Exposure Notification. The technology aims to conduct the traditional method of contact tracing for Coronavirus and curb the spread of the virus that is continuing to infect people. Now, the Exposure Notification API is available for public health officials and developers for both Android and iOS. Read on to know more about it.
To clear things out, Apple and Google have developed contact tracing technology and not contact tracing apps. The apps will be made by public health officials in some time for both Android and iOS, making use of the Exposure Notification tech. Well, not all’s bad then! (Sorry for the British humor). The Apple-Google joint statement read
To help, Apple and Google cooperated to build Exposure Notifications technology that will enable apps created by public health agencies to work more accurately, reliably and effectively across both Android phones and iPhones. Over the last several weeks, our two companies have worked together, reaching out to public health officials, scientists, privacy groups and government leaders all over the world to get their input and guidance.
Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries that have sought to develop their own technology are experiencing glitches, draining device batteries and seeing limited adoption. Apple and Google have said their system will more reliably use Bluetooth connections between devices to log users who are in physical proximity for at least five minutes.
The Exposure Notification tech won’t use or collect a person’s location data and it’s up to the person whether or not he or she wants to opt-in for the same. the beacon keys won’t reveal the user identity and users will have full control over the data shared on the apps. Additionally, if a person tests Coronavirus-positive, it is his or her choice to share the details with the public health officials. For further privacy, the Bluetooth metadata will be encrypted.
So, that solves the PERSONAL DATA THEFT issue for those who think their data is actually useful to hackers :)
Anyways, this is a good news for all of us in these tough times caused by COVID-19. I hope this Apple-Google technology works efficiently and contributes to reducing the sufferings of people. Because that’s what matters in the end (its my personal opinion that humans > money. No offence to anyone out there).
