Last week several senators from the United States sent a letter to Apple inquiring about the privacy and security of personal information collected by Apple on its website and app via COVID-19. Apple's answer, unsurprisingly, was simple: we don't collect.
There are no references or data collection
As Apple shows in response to the forum's management handbook, both the web and the app are designed with privacy as a priority. Since we are able to verify the use of the tool ourselves, it does not require any information or login process associated with any Apple ID and responses it's not sent to Apple or any other organization. Apple says the following terms:
In line with Apple's strong commitment to user privacy, the COVID-19 system and website is built on it to protect the privacy and security of user information
. As you can see, using the tools does not require logging in or engaging with a user's Apple ID, and individual responses are not sent to Apple or any government agency.Availability of essential information and guidance related to the health of individuals or their loved ones they should not force people to compromise their right to privacy. Instead, sometimes as such our commitment to protecting those rights is of the utmost importance. Our COVID-19 application and our website are designed with that in mind.
To verify, the API contact notification key
At the end of last week, Apple announced, in an official statement, a partnership with Google to create API which COVID-19 blocking apps can use notify users of social networks that have been tested for confidence.
This API is designed to provide applications from research organizations and governments that are possible awareness users you have been in touch with someone with a virus test. The surgery, it is widely said, is as follows:
- Our machine issues a random code, and that doesn't point us in any way, with the blue changing every 15 minutes. These codes are stored on our device for longer than 14 days.
- When we contact a person, within a radius of about one meter, more than 10 minutes on our phone keep someone else's random code.
- If this person is later, on a test, test positive, always with their consent, all random codes are uploaded to the cloud used 14 days ago.
- Our app always downloads this data and checks locally that it is on our contact record keep the same code and those who are straight people. If so, we will receive a notice.
With the system built, it is impossible to know, at any time, who is testing for optimism, knowing any location, nothing. The only positive thing, and the most important thing, is to warn the parties. Officials, or app developers, neither Google nor Apple have access to that information
Within the program, which explicitly designed privacy as a top priority, Apple has clarified the end of the point that, so far, seemed to be weak: false representations. For example if Apple offers a solution it would be that scanning the QR code on the result page to ensure good results. While the final launch is still underway, Apple has reported that Verification will be done by foreign businesses and will vary by region.
As the two examples in this article show, it's more than possible to combat the spread of communicable diseases without risking the safety and security of citizens, not one thing or the other, we can have both.
