UK to Use Apple-Google API in NHS Contact Tracing App

I figured when I read this on Macrumours on Friday and then the Government mentioned it yesterday that they wouldn’t redesign the wheel.

I’m personally OK with this only due to Apples influence of user privacy.

Agreed. This article does a great job explaining my attitude on the use of such technology...
https://reason.com/2020/04/10/the-surveillance-state-thrives-during-the-pandemic/

Exactly this. Meanwhile, there are people out there like those below, who show how easily some people willingly and eagerly give up their privacy. Almost using the standard script for every time some "emergency action" has to be taken against "some enemy" that leaves us with less and less freedom and privacy in the aftermath. This particular story pertains to the UK, which already has one of the most vast CCT networks in the world. How short of a reign do people want to be kept on? At least China had to run over their own citizens with tanks and seize it by force. Now, we have people applauding for such a regime.

Contact tracing is, by its very nature, highly invasive. But it's highly necessary right now. Without using technology like this, less efficient 'old style' contact tracing will happen anyway - and that data will sit on the same servers as this data will. So really don't think you've got much to lose by opting in.

Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.

How about no? And let's just stop opening the gate to even more widespread tracking?

You can opt-in NOW. But we've also seen how quickly every government has flexed on eliminating even the most basic of rights, with some countries arresting people even for jogging. There's absolutely zero trust that this app won't end up being abused.

Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.

How about no? And let's just stop opening the gate to even more widespread tracking?

You can opt-in NOW. But we've also seen how quickly every government has flexed on eliminating even the most basic of rights, with some countries arresting people even for jogging. There's absolutely zero trust that this app won't end up being abused.

Contact tracing is, by its very nature, highly invasive. But it's highly necessary right now. Without using technology like this, less efficient 'old style' contact tracing will happen anyway - and that data will sit on the same servers as this data will. So really don't think you've got much to lose by opting in.

Yikes. I knew there would be a lot of conspiracy theory people that would refuse to use this. I didn’t expect to see so many on this forum.

I can’t wait for the day these people find out that their location can already be tracked when they have their phone connected.

This isn’t about taking away your rights, spying, or what they will do in the future. This is about controlling the current pandemic. If you are worried about the other things, then you should use it now so that you will all be alive to make sure it goes away in the future.

Sometimes you can’t save people from their own stupidity. Sadly, with this virus they can end up taking others with them.

Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.

Thank you! Finally, someone who agrees that runners are an issue and should be told to do their running somewhere isolated and away from other people. I’ve tried to politely explain this to runners and all I get back is “there’s no evidence to say heavy breathing is a transmission vector” or a tirade of abusive language.

It’s like far too many people can’t think for themselves anymore.