Security News > 2020 > May > Me on COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps

Me on COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps
2020-05-01 11:22

"My problem with contact tracing apps is that they have absolutely no value," Bruce Schneier, a privacy expert and fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, told BuzzFeed News.

One, the app's location and proximity systems - based on GPS and Bluetooth - just aren't accurate enough to capture every contact.

Three, not every contact results in transmission; the disease has some transmission rate that's less than 100%. False negatives: This is the rate the app fails to register a contact when an infection occurs.

Assume you take the app out grocery shopping with you and it subsequently alerts you of a contact.

Assume you take the app out grocery shopping and it doesn't alert you of any contact.


News URL

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/05/me_on_covad-19_.html