Today the @NHSuk COVID tracing App is launched, and they have ended up using the privacy friendly technology from Apple and Google — and even adopted the same approach for QR code scanning in pubs and bars.
A huge win for privacy, the Govt set their face against this.
*BUT*
* If you are poor, don’t have a smartphone, then your privacy is not properly protected.
* Instead, you hand your details to the venue with no safeguards
* And when you talk to test and Trace, we still know nothing of how bad their privacy is, or if problems are fixed
That is why @OpenRightsGroup and @BigBrotherWatch yesterday asked our lawyers at @A__W______O to write to the Government demanding answers.
The Government is doing privacy as public relations — if we shout loud enough, we can have it.
Otherwise, forget it.
That is why we need the @ICOnews to act robustly, as a regulator. It is acting as Govt consultant, saying little and letting us down.
I downloaded the @NHSuk App. I’m ok with it as:
(a) The Google-Apple API is privacy preserving
(b) The companies do checks and impose conditions on Apps using the API
(c) The code is open for review (people will be on it)
(d) Pubs etc QR scans work the same way
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