Agreed (with the caveat that no country was prepared). I think that it's us voters that we have to learn that sometimes long term thinking is necessary, and that we have to expect expenses or efforts even on things that we don't see as important. It happens everytime, and I think it's part of our human thinking. If back in December 2019 you asked any voter or politicians "what's the biggest threat in 2020" very few would've said "a pandemic, from China.". Heck, it would've not made the Top 5 list. Hence, the vast majority of voters would've seen investments into stockpiles of masks and respirators as total wastes (it happens everytime. "shouldn't we invest more on schools/education/retirement/weapons/whatever"?). It's simply a matter of probability... in 40 years on this earth I have never seen a true pandemic. I don't know anyone alive who has seen their life seriously modified by a pandemic... so our own view is that it's so rare that we shouldn't invest on its prevention.
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U.S. Senators Question Apple CEO Tim Cook About COVID-19 App Privacy
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Agreed (with the caveat that no country was prepared). I think that it's us voters that we have to learn that sometimes long term thinking is necessary, and that we have to expect expenses or efforts even on things that we don't see as important. It happens everytime, and I think it's part of our human thinking. If back in December 2019 you asked any voter or politicians "what's the biggest threat in 2020" very few would've said "a pandemic, from China.". Heck, it would've not made the Top 5 list. Hence, the vast majority of voters would've seen investments into stockpiles of masks and respirators as total wastes (it happens everytime. "shouldn't we invest more on schools/education/retirement/weapons/whatever"?). It's simply a matter of probability... in 40 years on this earth I have never seen a true pandemic. I don't know anyone alive who has seen their life seriously modified by a pandemic... so our own view is that it's so rare that we shouldn't invest on its prevention.
And he's taking it out on others by… doing his job.
Judging by the comments, maybe this should go to the political forum???
Normally I would defend Apple but after it took a whistle blower to expose Apple allowing vendors to listen in on Siri recordings, I do want to hear Apple's response.
Apple probably forgot or didn't send those four campaign funds. Grow up, it's called extortion. Politicians do it all the time.
Strange. I’m a healthcare worker. My state government has effectively left us in the dark and the state is democrat from top to bottom. The republicans didn’t deny my hospital’s request for extra help. Our democrat governor did. But sure...keep believing that only one side is failing.
But Apple is not Storing the results (at all?) in a manner that could identify the app users if they gave it out.
You give out more HIPAA rated info in those stupid Facebook surveys that
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This is their days off until 4/20.
Who said they're criticizing? They're asking questions. There are congressional committees whose job it is do keep tabs on various things that may have a large effect on the public. This is part of their job. They will ask questions, Apple will provide reasonable answers, and we'll all move on. Apple has been through this a few times on other privacy/security issues, and it plays out the same way. The relevant committee asks questions, as they should, and Apple provides reasonable answers, as they should.
This is a reasonable enough question, with a reasonable enough answer (I assume, based on the evidence). Though I wonder what spurred it: the fact that corporations have continuously mishandled personal information time and time again, or is this a bit of showboating (because, there really isn't any evidence that data is being mishandled in this instance)?
I'm not saying the US is alone in their complete and utter failure: far from it. But we're one of the worst, and we shouldn't be pretending this was unavoidable. And pointing the finger at China (and I'm never one to defend China's lack of transparency) is not a good argument. We knew the outbreak in China was massive, and we had months to prepare. We didn't. The fact that China's numbers may be larger doesn't really change that equation. And for what it's worth, you could say the same about us: our numbers are also drastically underrepresented (due to lack of testing), and our response has been similarly inept.
To be fair, the approval rating of Congress is always abysmal. Everyone "loves" their own representatives, but hates the institution as a whole. And sadly, that hasn't changed much in decades.
This is wrong—I don't know how else to say it. Some governments were very prepared. It's not impossible at all. Taiwan receives more visitors from mainland China than any other nation; as of right now, they have 348 cases. That's it. Why? Because they were prepared, and they took immediate action. Studies have already been written. South Korea, while far more affected, deserves praise as well.
I'm not saying the US is alone in their complete and utter failure: far from it. But we're one of the worst, and we shouldn't be pretending this was unavoidable. And pointing the finger at China (and I'm never one to defend China's lack of transparency) is not a good argument. We knew the outbreak in China was massive, and we had months to prepare. We didn't. The fact that China's numbers may be larger doesn't really change that equation. And for what it's worth, you could say the same about us: our numbers are also drastically underrepresented (due to lack of testing), and our response has been similarly inept.
And which also seems to be in hot water right now. My wife is a teacher and the district made it very clear for them NOT to use Zoom to set up group chats for their classes due to hacking (or whatever other issues Zoom has been having).
taiwan and especially South Korea are more prepared because they deal with this more often. We don’t. That’s a fundamental difference in where the countries put the prioritization of their money. Just the fact that their citizens are used to wear masks while here it’s a big deal means a lot.
But Apple isn’t asking for any personally identifiable information so even if they stored it how would they know it belonged to you?
That thing that you're holding in your hand, that's running the COVID-19 iOS app. Did you recently find it on a street corner? Or is it actively logged into Apple with your Apple ID? Is your name and address on file with Apple for your warranty and for purchases?
Apple knows who you are, along with your answers to the questions. Knowing Apple, they are almost certainly not tying these two bits of information together. But it is reasonable for congress to ask them to put that in writing.
Downloading youre_infected_seek_help.png could be a bit of a giveaway.
I wonder what the senators Bob Menendez, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal have done to keep Americans as safe from Covid-19 as possible.
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I'd wager that I have achieved more in my life than any of these idiots. I just haven't been looking for achievements that put me in the public eye.
You appear to be sane. I think you might be on the wrong forum. 😁
To hell with “privacy concerns “ in a worldwide emergency like this. Every useful initiative like this should be appreciated.
US governors largely ignored the lessons paid with blood by Chinese and Italian people, and wasted weeks of preemptive warnings to get ready for the pandemic.
And now they are questioning useful apps like this.
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They ignored what happened in China and Italy, weeks before, and let the virus hit unprepared hospitals and health care organizations.
And now they are criticizing Apple in such a silly matter like “privacy” while people are dying alone.
World won’t be the same after all of this, and privacy concept must change when lives are at stake.
US governors largely ignored the lessons paid with blood by Chinese and Italian people, and wasted weeks of preemptive warnings to get ready for the pandemic.
And now they are questioning useful apps like this.
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Absolutely and totally this 🍻
They ignored what happened in China and Italy, weeks before, and let the virus hit unprepared hospitals and health care organizations.
And now they are criticizing Apple in such a silly matter like “privacy” while people are dying alone.
World won’t be the same after all of this, and privacy concept must change when lives are at stake.
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Funny how you're criticizing US governors, who are at the state level, and not mentioning two months of inaction at the national level - the people needed a single coherent message from the top (along with marshaling of resources far in advance) - we didn't get it. Instead we got, "gee, we sure are doing a great job, there's only 15 cases and soon it will be zero". Now the states are left to fend for themselves.
None of what the relevant committee is asking will slow down deployment or upkeep of Apple's app. They have a duty to ask questions about security and privacy. It's part of their job. This has happened before on other topics. They've asked reasonable questions, for the record, Apple will provide reasonable answers, on the record. Don't get so worked up about it.