StopCovid, the French Corona virus tracking App is ready to be rolled out midday today. It is said to be able to allow anyone who is diagnosed with Covid-19 to warn whomever they have been in contact with in the previous two weeks so they can be tested if they develop symptoms.
Cédric O, France’s secretary of state for the economy responsible for digital technology, said the government wanted to encourage people to download the app, particularly those living in cities where contacts, especially on public transport, are of concern.
While announcing a further easing of Lockdown last week, Prime minister Edouard Phillippe revealed that the government “guaranteed” that the app would not infringe people’s privacy or be used to collect data on geo localization. Also, France’s highest authority for the protection of privacy and data has approved StopCovid.
Recall, Apple and Google launched the first contact tracing application API late last month but France, keen not to rely on the US technology giants and wishing to retain “national sovereignty” over the process, developed StopCovid as an independent project. Apple and Google reportedly offered to work with the French government, which turned down the offer considering the companies posed data protection risks. Apple then refused to help with a means of allowing the Bluetooth to work on its phones while the StopCovid app is closed (on iPhones, Bluetooth works only when the app is open).
Furthermore, Cedric O accused the US companies of not cooperating.
“Apple could have helped us make it work even better on the iPhone. They didn’t want to do that, for a reason that I can’t quite understand,” he said.
“That a large company that has never done so well in economic terms does not help a government fight the crisis, we will have to remember that when the time comes.”
StopCovid will alert anyone who has had “prolonged contact” – meaning more than 15 minutes at less than 1m distance – with a person with Covid-19.
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