France has through its digital minister, Cédric O, told Apple and Google to relax their stances on privacy while developing the coronavirus contact tracing software.
This recent development sheds light on the fact that there are two sides to the privacy issue. For one thing, a US senator recently sent a letter to Google and Apple CEOs.
The senator, Josh Hawley had asked that the companies ensure that they protect users’ data at all times when the software starts working.
Now, in the opposite path, French authorities are asking that the companies remove their privacy rules for the technology.
Cédric O, who spoke on the behalf of the French government terms the restrictions as ‘technical hurdles’. According to an article on The Guardian’s website, it is the privacy protection policies that prevent many companies and governments from building their own software.
For example, if a third-party were to build an app for contract tracing that uses BlueTooth and other features, its working may be impeded by app permissions on smartphones.
Apple’s iPhone is a popular example, most common contact tracing apps cannot work on it if it is closed or minimised.
Also read:
– US Senator Calls For Google And Apple To Put Customer’s Privacy First In Coronavirus Tracing Software
– Google And Apple Building A COVID-19 Tracking Technology For Android And iOS Devices
– WhatsApp And WHO Launch COVID-19 “Together At Home” Sticker Pack
Thus, each time a person is playing a game or using a social media app, the contact tracing software is paused. This also happens when one locks their phone.
Cédric O had said: “We’re asking Apple to lift the technical hurdle to allow us to develop a sovereign European health solution that will be tied our health system”.
France is making this appeal because it wants to release its tracing software on 11th May. This is likely before Google and Apple will release theirs. If the restrictions are still there, France may go on to use the software in its limited state.
It is also a double-edged blade for the companies to handle. On one hand, there are countries wanting strong customer privacy protection. On the other, there are those that want them to relax privacy protection.
And they cannot release different tools for different authorities according to their needs. Every government has to use the same type of software.
With the pandemic still spreading; Apple and Google will have to find a way around this obstacle soon. This is because stopping the virus spread is the safest thing to do at this time.
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