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Contact Tracing and Privacy BY SANJANA MISHRA, COMPUTER SCIENCE, 2023
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f COVID-19 has improved one skill of the masses other than bread baking, it’s recognizing people without their face. From six feet away with masks covering most of their faces, people have now become recognizable by their mannerisms, clothing choices and occasionally (if you can hear them through their masks) their voices. Not being able to hug family members or friends, shake hands, or conduct meetings in person has become a nuisance to our daily lives. Humans are social creatures, but it has been almost three months since our definition of “social interaction” was flipped on its head. As we endure “pandemic-fatigue,” the nation, along with the rest of the world, is looking for a way to open up safely. We’ve flattened the curve, but how do we keep it that way? Many have their eye on contact tracing apps.
DESIGN BY KATIE GREEN, BIOENGINEERING, 2022
officials and Apple were responsible for vetting the app before it was released for public use, but privacy software maker Jumbo discovered that Care19 was violating its own privacy policy by sharing citizen data location and other personal information with Foursquare, a data provider for marketers. While Foursquare alleges that the data was never used, companies could take advantage of future data.
To combat the very concerns that were exacerbated with Care19, Apple and Google are utilizing Bluetooth technology to ease security concerns. Bluetooth’s low-energy specification for broadcasting short bursts of data allows smartphones to emit a random string of characters, which we refer to as a key, that acts as an alias to other devices. The key is changed every 10 to 20 minutes to ensure that According to Crystal Watson, a senior scholar with the John connecting data to a specific individual is nearly impossible for third parties. While the Hopkins Center for Health key is being shared with Security, contact tracing is “the other devices, the smartphone best tool we have to manage Regardless of the rules, records other incoming keys [COVID-19] in an ongoing way regulations, and laws in place, as well. This system allows an and allow our economy to open people may not feel comfortable individual who tests positive up again.” Tech giants Apple for COVID-19 to anonymously and Google have partnered to downloading an app meant to alert those they have come in make it easier for these apps to monitor them onto their devices.” contact or interacted with. hit their respective app stores sooner rather than later. The Even with this updated system, plan is for the app to monitor our locations and interactions for 14 days. If we get tested for many Americans are put off by installing apps that can COVID-19 and the results are positive, the app will alert those monitor them and instruct them on how to live. A study who have come in contact with us and advise them to isolate of about 800 Americans conducted by Microsoft Research, as well. The noble goal behind these apps is unmistakable, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Zurich but citizens still question, “What about privacy?” Many showed that eagerness to install these contact tracing apps users fear their data will be leaked and feel uncomfortable was dependent on the app’s accuracy and ability to protect with the idea of carrying around a smartphone all day with personal information. Specifically, Americans cared about certain settings turned on to specifically track their locations how accurate the app was at detecting false positives. Researchers found that people didn’t want to be told they and interactions. should isolate for 14 days if they weren’t seriously exposed Contact tracing apps bring the constant battle between and were only in the vicinity of an infected individual. Already convenience and privacy to the forefront. If we look to North uncomfortable with potential privacy loss, many Americans are not looking to give up that information in and South Dakota, we can get a better sense of just how exchange for threats of unlikely infection. complicated the tracking aspect of these apps can be. These two states released a contact tracing app, Care19, that was supposed to help with the reopening process. Both state TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, VISIT NUSCIMAG.COM
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