So, the government has commissioned the development of a smartphone app (sorry @lifeintheslowlane) that it will be trialling on the Isle of Wight starting this week.
It aims to use technology to understand where each of us goes and importantly who we come into close proximity to. This will help in the tracking and tracing of the virus.
What little we know of its architecture appears to suggest that it will use Bluetooth to constantly look for other phones running the app - and presumably tag this with the location of the user(s) and report that back a central system.
We’re told that unless 50% of the population use the app, the data it collects will have limited value.
There are also concerns over the app itself. These include who was chosen to develop it, how that contract was awarded, what will the government do with the data and also surprise that the government has chosen not to embrace the technology stack being jointly developed by traditional rivals Apple and Google.
I watched a newd report last week about the how they traced people in South Korea and it was bloody clever and completely terrifying. I’m not sure I’m ok with it but it worked there. Then again, they did before everyone died.
If this app means I can get out of this lockdown and get on with life, if some spod at MI5 wants to waste his time following me about, then fill yer boots.
