I saw a meme from a FB friend, who frequently posts questionable conspiracy theorist memes, about the newest iOs and Android updates including contact tracing, so I decided to research and fact check. Turns out, Apple and Google came together to push bluetooth notification technology – rebranded from contact tracing to exposure notification – into their latest software updates. Canada is on board with using the technology nationwide, and it has been reported that 22 countries and some U.S. states have expressed interest in using the API. However, some governments have been outspoken in their desire to build their own contact tracing technology.
https://www.apple.com/covid19/contacttracing
Here are some other articles analyzing the new exposure notification and its potential impact:
https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-contact-tracing-apple-google/
https://www.theverge.com/interface/2020/5/21/21265079/apple-google-covid-19-exposure-notification-bluetooth-limitations-contact-tracing-isolation
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/06/21/key-questions-google-apple-contact-tracing-system/
“Contact tracing” vs “Exposure notification” is an interesting study in rebranding to gain greater acceptance in the market. Like, yes, I want to be notified! But no, I don’t want to be traced! Oh, but wait, it’s the same thing. Words can change the impression of something so much. Thanks for sharing this.
Right? I finally cleared enough space off my phone for the update. If my location and everything else is already being traced anyway, it might as well be for the good of public health.