According to MorningBrew.com, last Friday, Apple and Google announced plans to release a jointeffort to assist in
mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The fierce rivals said that they will launch
software tools that enable developers to build apps which use Bluetooth technology to convert smartphones into
contact tracers. Contact tracing is based on the principal that those in close proximity toindividuals
infected with coronavirus are at risk of falling ill themselves. The virus
containment method catalogs newcarriers and everyone with whom app users have been in recent contact. Consequently,
public health authorities can map, and hopefully curtail,the virus's spread.
The companies' declaration has spurred concerns among
the public,
who are
fearful of the world's greatest technology giants tracking their every move.
Yet Google and Apple have promised that their upcoming platform will protect user privacy. According to
the corporations, the apps will not be able to track locations, but rather a smartphone's
contact with other smartphones, anonymously.
