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Data Privacy Advocates Alarmed By NHS’s New ‘Contact-Tracing’ App

Data Privacy Advocates Alarmed By NHS’s New ‘Contact-Tracing’ App

As both countries prepare to start unwinding the strict nationwide lockdowns imposed more than 6 weeks ago, the UK and France are collaborating on a new ‘voluntary’ surveillance app purportedly designed to help with ‘contact tracing’ for coronavirus patients.

The Evening Standard reports ministers from both countries have been “liaising” on the development of the new technology, which is expected to be ready within two or three weeks.

But why are the two allies collaborating on building their own ‘surveillance’ app instead of adopting a model proposed by Apple or Google? Well, apparently, British officials felt Apple’s treatment of user privacy was “too cautious”.

The app will use bluetooth to collect data from the phones of everybody one passes; should one of them test positive, a user will be notified.

A consultant to the French government said: “Apple appeared to be much more cautious about protecting client data and privacy than the French or British authorities.”

The smartphone app will track and trace any possibly affected persons near the user. Some have feared its use of Bluetooth could divulge confidential information about people’s locations.

To be sure, Matthew Gould, head of the unit at the NHS that’s in charge of developing the app, has said the location-tracking feature – pretty much the only reason to use the app – would be “opt-in”.

Matthew Gould, head of the NHS unit developing the app, has said the location aspect of the system would be “an opt in” and not compulsory.

“If you want to protect the NHS and stop it being overwhelmed while at the same time want to get the economy moving, the app is going to be part of the essential strategy,” he told the Commons science and technology committee.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

“We Have Made Mistakes” On Data Privacy, Google Executive Tells Senate

In what will be the latest in a string of tech-giant mea culpas, Google is planning to admit that it has made “mistakes” when it comes to privacy issues when a company executive delivers testimony to the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, according to Reuters. “We acknowledge that we have made mistakes in the past, from which we have learned, and improved our robust privacy program,” Google chief privacy officer Keith Enright is planning to say, according to a draft of his written testimony.

However, the testimony didn’t identify specific mistakes, and – what’s worse – Google’s behavior has been anything but contrite. And the company disappointed many privacy advocates earlier this week when it said it would continue to allow third-party apps to scan the contents of users’ Gmail accounts.

The company was roundly criticized for the practice over the summer when it first came to light.

Google

According to CNET, Wednesday’s hearing will focus on the efforts of tech companies and ISPs to protect user privacy. Executives from Apple, Amazon, AT&T and Twitter.will also testify at the hearing, which is the latest in a string of tech-firm interrogations to take place since Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a joint session of the Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees in the immediate aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Google’s CEO is also expected to meet privately with some Republican lawmakers.

Google on Monday released a data privacy framework, suggesting companies limit data collection, be required to protect that data and give people control of and easy access to information collected about them.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai will also meet privately with top Republican members of Congress on Friday.

Google parent Alphabet has a checkered history of safeguarding privacy concerns, as Reuters points out:

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

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