Nhs Track & Trace App

[Cloverjo]

Will you be happy to have this app on your phone?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/download-tracing-app-and-get-uk-back-to-work-l2t0ghkl9?shareToken=b1d3c3434806bc26cbaf4ef0ae5e265e

I apologise if the link doesn’t work. Having trouble with Times links.

[ToraToraTora]

yes good point.

[jourdain2]

Re: OP I don't have a smartphone, don't want one and have no intention of getting one. If I did have one - my answer would be 'No, I don't want this App.' When I hear the chief of G.C.H.Q. telling me this lunchtime that of course it won't infringe privacy then my hackles come up. Thin end of the wedge. Once the information device is out there populations can be threatened and controlled.

[Zacs-Master]

Tora, you can tell from this thread that there will be big resistance to the Govt forcing us to have such an app. I’ve also read (telegraph) that it doesn’t work on the more modern Huawei phones.

[woofgang]

chamois, here's another article with slightly different info. I think the source is as reliable. https://www.zdnet.com/article/contact-tracing-apps-why-the-nhs-said-no-to-apple-and-googles-plan/

[New Judge]

As far as my (limited) understanding goes, what it will do is keep log of which phones you come into close proximity with. It will do this by identifiers being sent by Bluetooth technology and the national mobile network will not be involved. It doesn’t need to know where you are, simply which phones that you came close to. Then, if you or anybody you have been nearby to reports that they may have symptoms of the virus, a warning is flagged up to the NHS and algorithms will be used to determine which of your recent “close encounters” need to be notified.

I don’t believe the app will serve any useful purpose. It is open to abuse in two ways: some people may be reluctant to report they have symptoms and some will use it to “have a laugh” and report symptoms they haven’t got. As well as that, being a government IT project, is highly unlikely to work properly anyway. Still, it will look good. But I don’t understand the privacy concerns. Of course if you’re that concerned simply don’t download it. But there was a legal cove on the wireless this morning from Matrix Chambers (where else) suggesting that privacy concerns may see court action taken and that Human Rights implications will have to be considered. He obviously saw the ££££ sign ringing up on the till. But I cannot see how there can be privacy concerns over something you don’t have to have and which, even if you have it, does not seem to use any personal information anyway. And of course if you do develop such concerns then you can always uninstall the app at any time.

[Buenchico]

Google already has a record of every shop, pub, restaurant, museum, art gallery, park, beach, etc that I've visited over the past few years, together with information about every journey I've taken to get there. That information is tied specifically to me as an individual, as it's linked to my Google account.

So I simply can't see why something that tracks my movements only as an 'anonymous data entity' should be something to worry about!

[New Judge]

Indeed, 'Chico.

If you don't want anybody to track your movements or whereabouts, the answer is simple - don't walk around with a mobile phone that is switched on. I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

[Tuvok]

Haven't read any of this thread as my answer is simply "don't have a mobile phone"

[ToraToraTora]

it wont be forced directly but those not playing along will find their lives ever more difficult.

[ToraToraTora]

even if this one is cured by vaccine and goes away and no further strains emerge this experience will compel measures to protect us in the future. I can see TTI apps being the norm and and society adapting to them with systems designed to make most sign up. Currently governments are largely terrified of the unpopularity this is engendering but that's as nothing to the what will happen if the world collapses economically. In the end they'll force the issue. Welcome to the new world.

[tiggerblue10]

Aren't all mobiles traceable through GPS anyway?

[Peter Pedant]

// making any data very skewed as we’re seeing with some evidence that it was in Paris Dec.//

a lot more data has to be supplied on that one
The late great Selwyn Crawford complained that these things cost money to nail or establish and a lot of the time the money cd be better spent elsewhere

the whole family has to be tested - and the people in the shop next to the sushi shop - it may have to wait for a decent antibody test

it seems incredible that he got it from no one and passed it onto to no one ....
(altho I suspect that is what happened to me in Luxor - it was present when we were there and not a week later. Thing is - I didnt kill anyone ...)

[Zacs-Master]

‘ So I simply can't see why something that tracks my movements only as an 'anonymous data entity' should be something to worry about!’

That’s if you believe you will be an ‘anonymous data entry’. I don’t.

I too have a google timeline where I can see exactly where I’ve been on any given day, how I got there and how long I spent there. This may lead you to think I’m being hypocritical about the Govt app but the big difference is, my google timeline doesn’t want to know anything personal about my health in a time of crisis which is, to me, a step too far.

[youngmafbog]

Ah, I'm with ZM. Oh well had to happen sometime.

[teacake44]

I'm all for it, only if the government provide me with the latest phone. :0) sheesh, there might be a distribution problem. :0(

[Bertrum]

No way on God's green earth is that going on my phone the government and NHS have an appalling track record on their technology

[New Judge]

//No way on God's green earth is that going on my phone the government and NHS have an appalling track record on their technology//

Help me understand, bertrum. What exactly are your fears?

[Buenchico]

>>> my google timeline doesn’t want to know anything personal about my health in a time of crisis which is, to me, a step too far

I find much of the concept of 'privacy' abhorrent anyway. Everyone's medical records, along with their bank records, etc (on a 'read only' basis, of course) should be in the public domain and freely accessible.

What have you got to hide, Z-M?