How to Disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications in iOS 13.5

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 13.5 is introducing an exposure notification API designed to allow apps created by public health authorities worldwide to notify people who come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 about their exposure to the virus.

Apple's Exposure Notification feature is privacy focused and shares no personally identifiable information or location data with the public health authorities creating the apps, but some users may want to opt out of the feature, which is enabled by default when upgrading to iOS 13.5.

Apple in the iOS 13.5 update added a toggle to disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications for those who do not want to participate and do not want to be notified should they come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Here's how to get to it:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Privacy.
3. Tap on Health.
4. Tap on COVID-19 Exposure Notifications.
5. Tap the toggle to turn the feature off.

The purpose of the exposure notification system is to limit the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible by informing people who have been exposed so they can self-isolate and get recommendations from their local health authorities. Because it works by allowing two smartphones to interface with one another using random identifier beacons and Bluetooth, it works best when most people have it turned on.

Re-enabling Exposure Notifications can be done by following the steps above and tapping the toggle to turn the feature back on. If the toggle is green, it's on, and if the toggle is gray, it's off.

iOS 13.5 is available in a beta capacity at the current time, and there won't be apps that take advantage of Exposure Notifications until the update is released. Receiving Exposure Notifications also requires downloading an app from a public health organization that uses the API and agreeing to its terms and conditions. Simply having the toggle turned on won't do anything without the app.

Article Link: How to Disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications in iOS 13.5

 

[Morod]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Eorlas]

I can't wait till headlines of this being offered by apple and google in conjunction with world governments goes mainstream on newsfeeds.

current conspiracies:

-5G
-Bill Gates
-Illuminati
-Vaccines
-Depopulation

and now
-Apple
-Google
-Big Brother

 

[rk-apple]

Let's hope this works. Contact tracing is a key element to fighting this virus!

 

[jayducharme]

This is a really smart use of technology. But I can imagine a lot of people turning it off, panicking needlessly about privacy. We're in an unprecedented time, and to make it through safely we can use all the help we can get.

 

[V_Man]

Thanks for this info. Won’t be using it.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

What a crap, they backed it in the os source code. NSA has now full access, thanks apple!

 

[NMBob]

Why wouldn't you just control the notifications like you do for every other app?

 

[V_Man]

What a crap, they backed it in the os source code. NSA has now full access, thanks apple!

Scary times. I may not be updating then.

 

[now i see it]

The "panic" will come when you get a notification that sometime in the past, who is now sick, was close enough to you to potentially infect you

 

[-BigMac-]

I can't wait till headlines of this being offered by apple and google in conjunction with world governments goes mainstream on newsfeeds.

current conspiracies:

-5G
-Bill Gates
-Illuminati
-Vaccines
-Depopulation

and now
-Apple
-Google
-Big Brother

Whats the bill gates one?

 

[NMBob]

This is a really smart use of technology. But I can imagine a lot of people turning it off, panicking needlessly about privacy. We're in an unprecedented time, and to make it through safely we can use all the help we can get.

Mother Nature is all the help we need...but that help no longer has a chance.

 

[Itada]

The tin foil is going to be strong in this thread.

 

[hrefman]

Unfortunately for us UK users the NHS app won’t be using the Apple and Google API in their public app.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

What a crap, they backed it in the os source code. NSA has now full access, thanks apple!

Amazing how paranoid some people are about privacy. You think Apple would literally bake reporting features into the OS? This is a decentralized solution. The only thing your phone is reporting (to Apple’s secure servers, not the government) is your set of Bluetooth IDs, which change repeatedly and don’t store any of your personal information.

EDIT: I was corrected. It doesn't even upload your IDs unless you confirm with a medical provider that you tested positive. Check out dwaite's post for more info.

 

[Stromos]

Hold up why are the instructions on how to turn off? Is it not opt-in for the beta?

 

[asopublic]

Made sure it was turned ON and I want an app so I can participate. I read the APIs.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Wait, they're putting this into the OS itself rather than as an app you have to choose to download?

AND they're making it opt-in by default?

**** that nonsense.

 

[mclaugaa]

If you turn this stuff off will it still be tracking me and where I’m in contact with? There’s NO way that Apple/Google/Govt around the world could ever abuse this information.

 

[Spectrum]

Why a front page post on how to disable this?

 

[blackberrycubed]

no more updates for me fo as long as possible...

 

[Radeon85]

Wish all the tin foil hat conspiracy theorists would give it a bloody rest

 

[ruka.snow]

Wait, they're putting this into the OS itself rather than as an app you have to choose to download?

AND they're making it opt-in by default?

**** that nonsense.

I suspect they'll have a wizard like when you choose to send them analytics or not. Regardless, I can seen this causing a lot of panic when everyones phone goes off telling them they have been near someone infected. Or worse, a false sense of security when they have been near dozens of people with a old smartphone, feature phone, or no phone at all.

 

[NightFox]

So for the people with privacy concerns - what information do you think this is providing that wouldn't already be potentially available to a government anyway?

And if Apple wanted to gather this information for its own nefarious purposes, it could have already baked that into iOS - no need to be public about it like this.

 

[Cycom]

The tin foil is going to be strong in this thread.

As is the bootlicking.