Apple and Google Reveal How COVID-19 Exposure Notification Apps Will Function

[MacRumors]

Apple and Google today are providing public health authorities around the world with new resources to help them make COVID-19 exposure notification apps, including sample user interfaces and sample code for iOS and Android.

iOS 13.5 will include a new menu in Settings > Health > COVID-19 Exposure Logging that indicates which public health authority app a user is using, in addition to showing the number of times that a user's exposure log has been checked in the past 14 days.

If a user is potentially exposed to COVID-19, they would receive a push notification from the public health authority's app.

Here's what the app could display when a user goes to report a positive COVID-19 diagnosis:

Apple and Google today also shared a list of requirements that all developers of apps that use their Exposure Notifications API must adhere to:

• Apps must be created by or for a government public health authority and they can only be used for COVID-19 response efforts.
• Apps must require users to consent before the app can use the API.
• Apps must require users to consent before sharing a positive test result with the public health authority.
• Apps should only collect the minimum amount of data necessary and can only use that data for COVID-19 response efforts. All other uses of user data, including targeting advertising, is not permitted.
• Apps are prohibited from seeking permission to access Location Services.
• Use of the API will be restricted to one app per country to promote high user adoption and avoid fragmentation. If a country has opted for a regional or state approach, Apple and Google are prepared to support those authorities.

Last week, Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 13.5 with the code needed to run apps built using the Exposure Notifications API, and it continues to target mid-May for a public release of the software update. Apple also released the first beta of Xcode 11.5 with a new version of the iOS SDK incorporating the API.

Apple and Google said their API is just one component of the broader efforts that public health authorities are undertaking worldwide to help curb the pandemic, including testing, traditional contact tracing, and containment.

For more details on the API, read our previous coverage and Apple's FAQ.

Article Link: Apple and Google Reveal How COVID-19 Exposure Notification Apps Will Function

 

[AngerDanger]

No way I'm letting Apple track m—

Apps are prohibited from seeking permission to access Location Services.

…well, still.

 

[TechieGeek]

TheVerge shared a lot more screenshots of the user flows, if folks are interested: https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/2...android-contact-tracing-exposure-notification

 

[Heelpir8]

Sounds like this'll be a very worthwhile way to quickly deplete the tiny battery on my soon to be delivered SE 2020!

 

[DavidLeblond]

This will probably barely make a mark but good on Apple for trying. Hopefully this will at least save a few lives!

 

[Professor Rucy]

Hopefully the OS will be updated for every single flu season, every single measles outbreak, in every town with a meningitis outbreak, and every single time someone sneezes so we can all feel safe and comfy around each other forever and ever.

 

[GadgetBen]

So based on this new information, Apple and Google will allow individual Country apps to be added even though they will collect personal data.

 

[1146331]

This will probably barely make a mark but good on Apple for trying. Hopefully this will at least save a few lives!

So much for survival of the fittest.

 

[bobbie424242]

DOA

 

[DoogH]

So based on this new information, Apple and Google will allow individual Country apps to be added even though they will collect personal data.

Nope, the API prohibits collecting user data, prohibits GPS, and anonymizes contacts.

Does everyone react this strongly when an app requests access to use your GPS? Imo, that’s much more of a concern than this.

It’s GOOD to be paranoid about privacy. But imo, they’re being plenty cautious here.

 

[jasonefmonk]

So much for survival of the fittest.

Y’know we kind of got rid of that when we disavowed rape and murder.

 

[lyngo]

Does this become the “backdoor” that the government was looking for with regard to other privacy things? I’m ignorant on this one, I’m actually posting this to learn and be more educated on the subject matter.

 

[citysnaps]

Hopefully the OS will be updated for every single flu season, every single measles outbreak, in every town with a meningitis outbreak, and every single time someone sneezes so we can all feel safe and comfy around each other forever and ever.

Of course that's ridiculous. But go ahead and stir the pot.

 

[bobbie424242]

Apple missed an opportunity not calling this tech 'Ping'. Hopefully it will have the same fate.

 

[Swift]

Tell every protester out there, "If you wear this, you'll be safe." But tell them they have to turn un Location Services. Then we'd know when they needed testing, and we'd just need the SWAT team to force them into quarantine. Easy-peasy. Thing is, it would make opening up safer. That's the POINT.
[automerge]1588612003[/automerge]

Of course that's ridiculous. But go ahead and stir the pot.

When people don't like something, it's amazing what kind of weak arguments they come up with against them.

 

[now i see it]

AKA: VPBB

voluntary personal black balling.

There's no way that this can stay completely anonymous regardless of the number scrambling and GPS disablement.

As I've read it, the notification will alert you to the DAY you were near "someone" who eventually tested positive. It may also tell you the Bluetooth signal strength (not sure about that).

So if a week ago I went out and saw ONE person and we passed each other on the sidewalk, and that was the only person I saw - and he ended up testing positive, then I'll know exactly who that person was. No way to avoid it.

 

[480951]

Hopefully the OS will be updated for every single flu season, every single measles outbreak, in every town with a meningitis outbreak, and every single time someone sneezes so we can all feel safe and comfy around each other forever and ever.

Good insight Texas, comparing the worst pandemic in 100 years to the flu. This is why your country has the highest death rate and cases on earth.

 

[Wombert]

AKA: VPBB

voluntary personal black balling.

There's no way that this can stay completely anonymous regardless of the number scrambling and GPS disablement.

As I've read it, the notification will alert you to the DAY you were near "someone" who eventually tested positive. It may also tell you the Bluetooth signal strength (not sure about that).

So if a week ago I went out and saw ONE person and we passed each other on the sidewalk, and that was the only person I saw - and he ended up testing positive, then I'll know exactly who that person was. No way to avoid it.

You won't know who the person is. You'll merely know that that random anonymous person whose identity remains unknown to you and that you passed on the sidewalk (and that's presuming you'll even remember, days later) may have exposed you, and that you should watch out for symptoms and possibly get tested for SARS-CoV-2.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Wish Apple would explain why it can’t get an exceptional approval from the FDA activate the latent blood saturation odometer that is built into every Watch it has ever sold.

High quality pulseoximetry units are sold out and the web is swimming with units of questionable performance and provenance.

Health experts are on record that an essential item which could reduce fatalities due to folks not going into the ER or arriving too late would be simple blood oxygenation monitoring which could alert the wearer to their lung performance sliding toward the critical zone.

I’ve sent both tweets and email to too Apple management hoping to hear something about why this feature is not made available in this crisis.

Not everyone will be able to afford the Watch 6 rumored to be coming w this feature.

If backward activation of an effective predictor is possible, Apple could do a huge favor to humanity as there are over 100 million of these things in circulation now.

Maybe someone at MacRumors.com can ask Apple to respond to this idea. The rest of us could tweet it to @tim_cook and @pschiller.

 

[JedWare]

So how does it handle if I am in my car at a stop light and people walk by or cars are next to me? I don't feel like being notified in those cases.

 

[xMBPx]

It could be pretty much next to impossible to not walk past anyone for 14 days that tested positive.

 

[SirithX]

People are upset at even the idea of this because rawr, privacy, but at the end of the day, a robust and reliable contact tracing system where we can identify and isolate affected individuals would allow us to never have to shut down the economy again, even in the case of future new waves of COVID or any other similar virus/disease for which we do not currently have a cure.

I think a lot of people will accept that, given the two options.

 

[DoogH]

It could be pretty much next to impossible to not walk past anyone for 14 days that tested positive.

I actually don't think that's true. In theory, we need to wait until the infection rate is back to January levels before we reopen.

If we do that, I don't think there will be an enormous number of reports of being exposed. It'll be a daily targeted trickle of telling people to get tested.

 

[paradox00]

Hopefully the OS will be updated for every single flu season, every single measles outbreak, in every town with a meningitis outbreak, and every single time someone sneezes so we can all feel safe and comfy around each other forever and ever.

Hopefully you educate yourself (using reputable sources) on the differences between Covid-19 and the flu and stop spreading misinformation.

 

[frumpy16]

People are upset at even the idea of this because rawr, privacy, but at the end of the day, a robust and reliable contact tracing system where we can identify and isolate affected individuals would allow us to never have to shut down the economy again, even in the case of future new waves of COVID or any other similar virus/disease for which we do not currently have a cure.

I think a lot of people will accept that, given the two options.

Contract tracing already exists and has for a long time without this new technology. And the “choice” you highlight is exactly what people are pushing back on. Either accept this intrusion “for the greater good” or we will keep inflicting these draconian measures on you until you give in.

People that can’t see that fact are the actual problem, not the people calling it out for what it is.