COVID-19 Digital Rights Tracker

[Stopspying]

Content source

https://www.top10vpn.com/news/surveillance/covid-19-digital-rights-tracker/#digital-tracking

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19, governments around the world have implemented a range of digital tracking, physical surveillance and censorship measures in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.
Some of these may well be proportionate, necessary and legitimate during these unprecedented times. However, others have been rushed through legislative bodies and implemented without adequate scrutiny. "

Privacy Tracker: 180+ Tracking Apps Analyzed

A live index that documents new initatives implemented in response to the pandemic that threaten internet freedoms and digital rights around the world.

www.top10vpn.com

The following spreadsheet gets updated as steps taken by countries are disclosed.

COVID-19 Digital Rights Tracker Supporting Data

docs.google.com

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

I just found out today google installed a COVID-19 Exposer Notifications to my Android. It appears to use Bluetooth. On Android go to settings, Google and you will see it there.
ON Iphone go to settings, privacy, health.

 

[Ink]

I don't use Bluetooth, so it's "Off" according to Google's honest statements.

If you use iOS, the toggle from Control Center is partial / temporary. You need to turn off the Bluetooth from the Settings.

 

[Kermit80]

I just found out today google installed a COVID-19 Exposer Notifications to my Android. It appears to use Bluetooth. On Android go to settings, Google and you will see it there.
ON Iphone go to settings, privacy, health.

Exposure Notification - Wikipedia

"[Exposure Notification] is designed to be implemented as an opt-in feature within COVID-19 apps developed and published by authorized health authorities"

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

So they have a data base of those who have been infected? Otherwise how would the app know? Not sure I like it.

 

[Arequire]

So they have a data base of those who have been infected? Otherwise how would the app know? Not sure I like it.

If by "they" you mean Google, then no. A code is generated by the app after you agree to contract tracing. The code is stored locally on your device and neither Google, Apple or your government has access to this code. The code itself is unique but anonymous and isn't linked to any identifiable data.
If you test positive for Covid, you'll be asked for permission to upload your code to the relevant government authority. Said authority flag your code as infectious, and when your code is exchanged with others they'll be notified that they've come into contact with an infected person.

 

[Ink]

So they have a data base of those who have been infected? Otherwise how would the app know? Not sure I like it.

Not everything from Google or Apple is tracking you, sometimes it's the government's implementations that can be more invasive. Regardless, and as far as I am aware, installing or activating it remains optional.

 

[Kermit80]

Not everything from Google or Apple is tracking you, sometimes it's the government's implementations that can be more invasive. Regardless, and as far as I am aware, installing or activating it remains optional.

Google+Apple's code comes installed with Android and iOS updates but it doesn't work alone and, at least on iOS (I don't know about Android), you need to manually enable the notification service. That code make APIs available to health authorities notification apps that, hopefully, should be optional (in my country it is).

 

[Ink]

I just found out today google installed a COVID-19 Exposer Notifications to my Android. It appears to use Bluetooth. On Android go to settings, Google and you will see it there.
ON Iphone go to settings, privacy, health.

Additional info... It doesn't do anything.

No, no one has secretly installed a COVID-19 tracker onto your smartphone

Social media is awash with claims that Google or Apple has secretly installed COVID-19 trackers onto user's iPhones and Android smartphones. (Updated August 2020)

www.zdnet.com