COVID-19: Google and Apple Team up on Contact Trace Technology

Around the world, the governments and health departments are fighting together against the Coronavirus pandemic, coming up with solutions to reduce its effect, so the society and the people can recover from it at the earliest. Keeping this in mind, various software companies and enthusiasts, too, are continually working to build technologies to aware the people to stay safe. Apple and Google together have come forward to contact trace Coronavirus patients. They are working together in developing a technology that will let people know whether they have come in contact with any Coronavirus infected person.

“To further this cause, Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing,” says Apple and Google. The initial aim is to help third party contact tracing applications work accurately. But the primary objective is to get rid of downloading dedicated apps while supporting the work. The approach by Apple and Google will keep in mind that- the users participating are voluntary and would stay anonymous. At the same time, their privacy will remain the utmost concern for both companies.

The contact tracing method will somewhat work like this- with the help device’s Bluetooth connection signals; the user will know whether he/she has been in contact with an infected person long enough to catch the virus. If either of the people is tested positive for COVID-19 in the future, an immediate warning will be issued to the original handset owner, informing him about the situation. The companies, while addressing the privacy concern, say that neither GPS nor personal information of the user will be collected.

“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. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments, and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life,” said the two companies in a joint statement.