Thread by @mattuthompson

BREAKING: More bad news for the NHS coronavirus tracing app.

Parliament's Committee on Human Rights says it is "not reassured" the app protects privacy, and that if the app doesn't prove effective, the level of data gathered may actually break the law.

@LBC

The HR Committee says it is also "highly concerned" that there has been no detailed Parliamentary scrutiny of the plans for the NHS app, and is calling for it to be brought before Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

The Committee is also calling for an independent body to oversee the implementation of the tracing app, and regular reviews every 21 days from the Health Secretary to ensure its efficacy and data safety.

Clearly this is bad PR for the Government, who are already on the ropes over testing and PPE. But there is a more important problem.

The app only works if many millions of people use it. That is much less likely to happen if there is even a sniff of any privacy concern.

On the centralised/decentralised debate, last week the app's boss told MPs they'd chosen centralised in spite of privacy concerns, as it allowed a better balance of data gathering.

Committee's view: "not clear that outweighs the risks inherent in a centralised model."

The NHS tracing app dilemma in a nutshell:

In order to be legal, the app needs to be effective. In order to be effective, the app needs people to download it.

People will not download it if they are concerned it may be illegal.