Coronavirus: Apple, Google collaboration to track virus via bluetooth raises concerns

Apple and Google have promised to release draft technical documentation of their virus tracking software.

A ground breaking partnership between Apple and Google underlines competition and privacy concerns raised attempts to combat the coronavirus.

Apple and Google have announced they are working on an application which would tell you that someone you have been in contact with has tested positive for the virus.

The bluetooth model works only if you and the person infected have agreed to be part of the service but even US President Donald Trump has raised the privacy concerns.

He said on Friday “a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person’s freedom”, adding it was very interesting and he would take a close look at it.

On paper the groundbreaking collaboration is a welcome use of technology to help combat the virus.

But from a wider perspective based on the respective companies activities elsewhere it raises genuine competition and privacy concerns.

The ACCC is granting interim authorisation to a slew of industries to collaborate amid the virus ranging from supermarkets to health insurers to shopping centre owners energy companies.

Some of these arrangements like the health insurance and shopping centre clearances are of dubious merit and raise competition concerns.

These will be addressed in the formal authorisation process.

Neither Apple nor Google have yet contacted the ACCC seeking clearance for this deal.

Given the ACCC’s concerns on the power of computer platforms led by Google and Facebook linking the controller of android phones (google) and Apple would raise strong concerns.

Google and Facebook have resisted demands to pay for copyright material they use on their platforms which has decimated media revenues.

But turning smart phones into virus tracking devices has strong appeal.

Google and Apple are planning to release the first versions of their software next month working with health authorities.

In a statement they said “all of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems.”

They have promised to release draft technical documentation of their software.

Any collaboration between the two while welcome would need be subjected to tight controls and oversight which is something neither Apple nor Google have welcomed with open arms in the past.