Digital contact tracing apps slow Covid-19 infection

In response to Covid-19, many countries have turned to digital contact tracing technologies (DCTs) to fight against the deadly pandemic. Broadly, these are apps used to detect, trace and grant access permission to isolate infected persons from the uninfected.

Hyderabad: In response to Covid-19, many countries have turned to digital contact tracing technologies (DCTs) to fight against the deadly pandemic. Broadly, these are apps used to detect, trace and grant access permission to isolate infected persons from the uninfected.

Emerging research in countries where DCTs have been implemented, such as in the UK and Spain, suggests that they are better than manual contact tracing to slow the transmissions of Covid-19 and save lives.

The successful implementation of DCT requires a "marriage of convenience" between tech companies and governments, which has resulted in the unprecedented accumulation of private data.

In China, the government is reportedly working with Alibaba and Tencent to enforce DCTs, while in South Korea, the government works closely with Naver and Kakao to achieve the same goals.

Similarly, in the US and Europe, some states and countries are working with Apple, Google and other developers to implement DCTs. Let's take a look at some of the countries that are actively using mobile apps based contact tracing.

• In the US, digital contact tracing covers nearly half the country, for example, the NIH funded mContain app. However, there is no US law to fully guarantee the privacy of users, existing laws are outdated according to a Brookings article.
• In Europe, digital contact tracing apps have been implemented mostly in collaboration with Google and Apple (Google Apple Exposure Notification GAEN) Platform. There is a Europe wide law, (GDPR articles 6&9) that can help safeguard privacy to some extent.
• Singapore government implemented contact tracing covering a majority of the population. The country has passed the COVID19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 to guarantee basic privacy.
• In Israel, the government mandates citizens to use the HaMagen 2.0 Digital contact tracing countrywide. However, there is ongoing controversy over the interim bill to authorize the General security service to aid the national effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
• In Taiwan, digital contact tracing is mandatory as the communicable disease control act gives ground to protect information related to patients or suspected patients.
• In South Korea, digital contact tracing apps like KI -Pass (QR Code) and self-quarantine safety protection apps are mandatory with private tech companies such as Kakao and Naver responsible for data protection.