Apple and Google have released contact tracing technology that will allow public health mobile apps to notify users if they’ve potentially been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, the two companies announced on Wednesday. And according to at least one privacy expert, the new technology has ample safeguards to satisfy those who are concerned it could be used by overreaching government organizations and officials to snoop on private citizens and their health status.
The application programming interface (API), called Exposure Notifications, utilizes Bluetooth technology and can be used across iOS and Android devices. It is meant to be downloaded by public health agencies who are creating their own contact tracing apps.