A few days ago, the agreement reached by Apple and Google, two of the largest technology multinationals in the world, was made public. The common objective was clear: to try to stop the contagion between individuals of the well-known 'Coronavirus' COVID-19 using computing power and device deployment with which they sing their operating systems: Android and iOS. API development progresses, and so do the diverse opinions of countries around the world around the use of it. According to the latest information, the European Union could use the API to control COVID-19 infections throughout its territory.
Using technology to stop COVID-19
The European Union announced a few weeks ago the beginning of the well-known project PEPP-PT (Pan-European Technology Platform for the Preservation of Privacy). A tool that had the same objective as the API developed by Google and Apple: use technology to determine contacts between individuals and advise if any of the contacts were infected by COVID-19.
However, the latest information provided by Reuters, Senior officials of the European Union and the PEPP-PT project itself could agree on make use of the Google and Apple API. As it "could help shorten the path to implementation." Since the objective is to achieve a fast, safe and effective tool as soon as possible.
Beyond the technology used by these alleged applications, two other issues are on the table. First of all, the dilemma over whether la application should be unique or if, on the contrary, there should be as many applications as there are countries. Second, the problem related to privacy and defense of user data in front of this type of technology. Remember that this API allows the detection of contacts through the Bluetooth connection of the terminals.
Even agreeing that privacy should be the main element of this tool, there are still divergences. What worries now is where the data of these users would be stored. Some countries are supporters of centralize all information on common servers. While others, like the founders of the API, opt for decentralization to protect user privacy.