States Face Hurdles To Get People To Trust Contact Tracing Technology
- May 18, 2020
Politico (5/17, Ollstein, Ravindranath) reports, “A half-dozen states have announced they’re building their own apps to pinpoint the spread of coronavirus so they won’t have to rely on similar efforts from distrusted big tech firms,” and “so far, it’s not going well.” Several “states are waiting to see whether the Bluetooth-based release from Apple and Google, which is supposed to automatically notify people when they come close to someone who’s tested positive, will be an effective way to monitor outbreaks,” while “some states are raising concerns that the tech giants’ app won’t allow them to collect enough information due to privacy concerns.” However, “regardless of states’ differing approaches to digital contact tracing, public health experts agree they face a high hurdle getting enough people to trust virtual surveillance to make the effort worthwhile.”
Privacy Concerns Could Deter Contact Tracing Efforts In Louisiana. The AP (5/15, Deslatte) reported, “Worries about the breach of individual privacy rights could undermine Louisiana’s ability to quickly pinpoint those who have encountered someone infected with COVID-19, a tracking plan that public health experts say is critical to slowing the spread of the coronavirus disease.”