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The COVIDSafe app is a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes

A censored university panel discussion illustrates how the COVIDSafe app came to be seen as another government tech-wreck.

Priya Dev

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When I was removed from a university panel discussion about the COVIDSafe contact-tracing app, it brought to my mind the folktale The Emperor’s New Clothes, a story of profit and pride.

The story is of an emperor who is conned into purchasing an imaginary suit that only worthy people can see. Everyone maintains the illusion of the emperor’s suit because speaking the truth would reveal them to be fools.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/link/follow-20180101-p5683s