Google and Apple Rolling Out Anti-Coronavirus Tracking Software

As if things weren’t already bad enough, our favorite Big Brother tech giants have announced their efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19. I’ll tell you right now, fans of privacy and individual liberty are not going to like it.

According to Apple,

Since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals, public health officials have identified contact tracing as a valuable tool to help contain its spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities, and NGOs around the world have been doing important work to develop opt-in contact tracing technology. To further this cause, Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing. Given the urgent need, the plan is to implement this solution in two steps while maintaining strong protections around user privacy.

First, in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.

Second, in the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms. This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders. We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze.

All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.

Ummm that’s gonna be a hard pass from me, thanks.

Tech companies looooove to talk about how much they care about privacy and consent, but anyone who’s spent as little as five minutes trying to opt out of these default tracking technologies can tell you what a load of hokum that is– especially given that, often, they’re still quietly keeping track of the data you told them not to.

If Apple and Google were to stop after phase one, with a voluntary app that users could choose to download or not, I might be okay with this. But they’ve already made it clear they plan to build this into their platforms. BIG NOPE.

Ugh. I don’t know guys, maybe it’s time we all move en masse back to Nokia. Or those Jitterbugs with the giant buttons for the elderly. Does Google own those, too?