COVID-19 Tracking App Mega Discussion Thread

[Deactivated] on 15/04/2020 - 01:37
Last edited 27/04/2020 - 10:57 by 2 other users

Mega Thread for COVID-19 App discussions (Description Updated 27/4/20)

Please use this thread for any discussions about COVID-19 app discussions, rather than making a new thread. Also see below for other specific/related threads.

Poll Options

148
Yes.Why?
251
No. Why?
2
Other

Mobile COVID-19

Comments

- - - - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:39
        
        +4
        
        @FabMan: I think that's the point. If you got sick tomorrow, got tested and was positive for Covid19, you'd be interviewed about all the people you'd been in contact with. These could be people you brushed past going to/from work who then went home and infected their 85 year old parents, who subsequently die from it (maybe). The app seems harmless to me and I'd take an early exit from quarantine over fears this app is somehow out to 'get us'
        
        Elyxar on 27/04/2020 - 08:49
        
        +4
        
        @[Deactivated]: And the app will will do exactly nothing for all those people that you brushed past going to work. 15 minutes your phone has to be in the vicinity of someone else’s phone to trigger a trace contact. You can be in an elevator coughing on a dozen people and this won’t trigger.
        
        [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 13:28
        
        @Elyxar: It's better than nothing right? If you have to contact everyone you've been in touch with then this could make that job just a bit easier for the health worker doing the investigation? The more with the app the better it is, the less you have to find 'the hard way'
    - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 11:13
      
      So you are a murderer WRT to meningococcal?
  - blehgg on 27/04/2020 - 08:12
    
    +15
    
    anything which helps the community get back on it's feet.
    
    Woolworths and Coles have both stated 1/2 price deals have been reduced due to COVID.
    
    More Covid = less 1/2 price deals…
    
    Unpack the code yourself or read from someone who already has - https://twitter.com/matthewrdev/status/1254336105203200000
    
    My family isn't struggling as we are essential workers - I know others that are - think of others before raising unwarranted / unstated concerns
    - lochstar on 27/04/2020 - 09:07
      
      Great info, thanks!
  - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:20
    
    +2
    
    I agree…
    Not a deal until bigman scotty endorses it…
  - stickyfingers on 27/04/2020 - 08:49
    
    +1
    
    Agreed. Not a deal.
  - buhie on 27/04/2020 - 08:53
    
    Best deal of the year. It’s free and gives us the best chance of life returning to normal!
  - blehgg on 27/04/2020 - 09:12
    
    it's free beaches and jobs and health?
    
    How? if the the country opens up, this app provides a more reliable form of contact tracing
    
    They are trying to fill the missed contact gap in the image below:
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Co…
    
    (You don't trust the code - but you trust someone manually provide contact tracing… ok…)
    
    Here's the scenario:
    - Restrictions are raised
    - You sit next to bob for 2 hours at maccas
    - Bob returns with a positive for covid in a weeks time (infectious for 2)
    
    Currently: Bob can only say - "I was a Maccas @ x date" - no way to contact those in contact besides "if you've been here - stay at home"
    
    This app: Allows you to be contacted so the can manage the spread and keep Australia - beaches, gyms, jobs open - because we only had X number of cases, instead of XXX cases cause you weren't contacted.
    
    More Spread = MORE RESTRICTIONS = Less Deals on Toilet paper. - Cause of hoard mentality.
    
    How is this NOT a deal… Toilet paper!!!
- henrus on 27/04/2020 - 07:23
  
  +40
  
  This is something for the forums. It's not a bargain because it's new.
  - daven1985 on 27/04/2020 - 07:28 Comment score below threshold.
    - Elyxar on 27/04/2020 - 07:39
      
      +23
      
      Is it much cheaper than usual = no, never been available before.
      Is it much cheaper than expected = no, this was the expected financial cost.
    - FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 08:50
      
      +3
      
      So if I release some “new” crappy mobile game that’s free, I can post it as a bargain?
      - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 09:02
        
        @FireRunner: Does it have a reasonable chance of reducing infections?
        
        FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 09:06
        
        +1
        
        @[Deactivated]: My response was to the logic behind daven’s definition of a bargain.
        I’d still argue that an app that is always free whether useful/beneficial or not, is not a bargain. Seems the mods think so too
        
        [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 09:24
        
        +1
        
        @FireRunner: I agree it’s not a bargain in the traditional sense of what is posted here. Just a shame it gets less visibility in the forums. But that’s because I want people to use the app, others disagree.
- pennypacker on 27/04/2020 - 07:23
  
  +1
  
  No deal
- Belistic on 27/04/2020 - 07:25
  
  +20
  
  not a deal..
  - ti6331 on 27/04/2020 - 08:39
    
    +2
    
    It helps to save life,maybe save you and your love,so it's a great deal
    - Belistic on 27/04/2020 - 10:29
      
      There's no guarantee that it does or doesn't… from what I've read…
- sane on 27/04/2020 - 07:26 Comment score below threshold.
  - daven1985 on 27/04/2020 - 07:26
    
    Why not a great idea? Curious as to your reason and expertise to make that call?
    - sane on 27/04/2020 - 07:51
      
      -3
      
      Because contact tracing of community transmission ISN'T the problem we have now - the new cases we see are in already known clusters. This app has nothing to do with eradicating the disease, it's connected with seeing how gullible the public are - and the answer as you can see from the idiot downvotes is pretty gullible.
      
      I've not met one person knowledgable with IT security and privacy that thinks this is a good idea.
      - britta on 27/04/2020 - 07:57
        
        +3
        
        @sane: As we loosen restrictions contact tracing will become very important. Proactive VS Reactive
        
        unifex on 27/04/2020 - 08:05
        
        +11
        
        @britta: id install it except
        1 its only on au itunes store
        2 Aussie government has overreached every time they have said trust us this piece of tech will only do X
        3 they wrote legislation and passed it saying they can request a back door be at any point be installed and the developer will go to jail if they warn anyone.
      - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:04
        
        @sane: Do you understand how the app even works?
      - Unotifoso on 27/04/2020 - 08:04
        
        +5
        
        @sane: Username does not check out.
        
        I'm in IT Security and I think it's a pretty great idea. Of course it's a good idea to get the contact tracing app out before you reduce the social restrictions in anticipation of community transmission. This seems reasonable, understandable, pragmatic, and sane.
        
        On a personal note, I know the group of developers/young entrepreneurs who built the app and if you think these real humans living their lives in anxiety and uncertainty away from their ageing parental figures like the rest of us are operating on your level of neurochemistry and general mistrust, I am sorry to say you'd be mistaken.
      - gif on 27/04/2020 - 08:12
        
        @sane: Sane - Scepticism is fine, but you are fear mongering and providing no basis behind your reasoning. If anyone is concerned about installing an app then wait till the greater tech community weighs in and provides their findings. Until then, stay home.
      - lubos on 27/04/2020 - 08:15
        
        +3
        
        @sane: I'm the person knowledgable with IT security and privacy and I think this is great government initiative. We need to leverage technology to fight this virus. If you are privacy conscious, then you shouldn't own mobile phone at all because Google/Apple and mobile phone operators already track your location and you can't opt-out.
        
        This app is done very well. Your full location history is not exposed to government unless you get infected and give government consent. Fragments of your location history can be made available to government without your consent only when you get in close contact with infected person who has this app installed. I think that's fine.
        
        There is a good chance the app won't work because not enough people will opt-in but let's give it a shot.
        
        One day, there is going to be much more lethal virus than Covid-19. We are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. Perhaps this app works and when really lethal virus comes along, we are going to have better outcome by leveraging the technology.
        
        tabboo on 27/04/2020 - 08:38
        
        +1
        
        @lubos: I work in IT As well, and have had a few family members ask me what I think / Should they download it? They are all worried about the privacy/tracking of the app. I have advised them to not download it AT THIS STAGE, while I look into the app myself, and can explain to them why/why not in simple terms.
        
        From what I have seen, I will be suggesting to download it.
        
        Not a bargain though
        
        sween64 on 27/04/2020 - 09:00
        
        @lubos: It doesn’t even track a person’s location history (no GPS). It just notes your proximity to other app users using Bluetooth signal strength.
  - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:27
    
    -1
    
    You’re the reason life can’t go back to normal
  - britta on 27/04/2020 - 07:47
    
    +6
    
    ….mate, your the sheep here!
    
    Tell me how an app than can identify if you have unknowingly been in contact with a confirmed Covid case??
    
    Take off the tinfoil hat mate
  - UncleRico on 27/04/2020 - 07:52
    
    +2
    
    Yeah, that 5G's gonna get you, right…
  - Yorkshire-Man on 27/04/2020 - 08:37
    
    Bet you use facebook / insta / WhatsApp which are wayyyy more invasive
    - jatyap on 27/04/2020 - 09:00
      
      … or, you know… Google.
- daven1985 on 27/04/2020 - 07:26
  
  +15
  
  Great deal!
  
  If people actually get this and we can help stop the virus from infecting and then start to return the country to a better state!
  - Belistic on 27/04/2020 - 07:46
    
    -3
    
    There's no proof that by dl the app, it will stop the virus…
    - carljen on 27/04/2020 - 07:49
      
      +10
      
      No Proof there not either . If it helps us get back to some sort of normality its a no brainer
      - itshammer on 27/04/2020 - 07:53
        
        -4
        
        @carljen: Gravity is just a theory, do you believe when you don't wear a belt your jeans will fall down?
        
        You don't need to have proof for there to be sound reasoning something will happen
        
        DingoBilly on 27/04/2020 - 07:56
        
        +2
        
        @itshammer: Well in this context you're referring to the law of gravity, not the theory part, so you're not actually comparing apples to apples.
        
        [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:05
        
        +1
        
        @DingoBilly: It's still a theory with a lot of evidence.
        Just like tracking and isolating cases works is a theory with a lot of evidence.
        
        Unotifoso on 27/04/2020 - 08:32
        
        @[Deactivated]: Theory & theorem are not the same.
    - SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 08:04
      
      +4
      
      It won't..it's not a vaccine. Bluetooth isn't disinfectant or UV light :)
      
      Its aim is to limit the spread by more accurately and quickly identifying those that have been in contact with others who have tested positive.
      
      Essentially using technology to try and reduce the virus's R0 factor and it's exponential growth (due to reducing spread quicker)
    - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:35
      
      That’s not the claim….
    - blehgg on 27/04/2020 - 08:38
      
      it won't stop the virus - but i dont trust someone's crappy for contact tracing.
  - leiiv on 27/04/2020 - 08:51
    
    You mean to bring the country to a better (police/racist/surveillance) state.
- Bubbleshark on 27/04/2020 - 07:28
  
  Yeah, we should reopen everything, karen needs a haircut, make australia great again!
  - xoom on 27/04/2020 - 07:45
    
    And she also want to speak to the manager.
    - matttttt on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
      
      +6
      
      Lame
- MA TT on 27/04/2020 - 07:29
  
  +18
  
  Not at all a deal
  - Mr Frodo on 27/04/2020 - 07:57
    
    Of course it is . It's a great deal for the government. Free data!!
    
    Get real guys. You don't need an app to keep yourselves safe. Stay at home, follow the health guidelines, you should be fine!
- Elyxar on 27/04/2020 - 07:30
  
  +21
  
  Not a deal
- therealmaddog on 27/04/2020 - 07:31
  
  +16
  
  Anyone with a google app (actually so many apps) is giving access to soooo much of your data, for no benefit to yourself. Why not give some access for a period of time and try to help the nation! You can delete it once we are over this.
  - SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 07:35
    
    +12
    
    for no benefit to yourself
    
    Free search, email, mapping etc isn't a benefit?
    - itshammer on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
      
      +5
      
      Lol don't bring reason to this party
      
      Anyone who has Apple is likely doing the same, just that Apple will be keeping the data more hidden
    - knk on 27/04/2020 - 09:00
      
      Not spreading a virus that could potentially be stopped by an app? Also a benefit!
  - FutureTech on 27/04/2020 - 08:28
    
    This. Just go to the Timeline function in Google Maps you will see where you have even to everyday in the past tracked
  - beardelune on 27/04/2020 - 08:48
    
    +3
    
    Google doesn't control the police force, border security, prisons, Centrelink, etc.
    
    The Aus Gov, through countless (profanity) with privacy and datasharing between departments with the intent to (profanity) over people is not an entity I trust.
    
    This Government brought RoboDebt, this was declared "Due Force" (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-16/ibac-police-break-man…)
    
    Why should I trust them?
- shroomish on 27/04/2020 - 07:32
  
  -3
  
  Deal!
- SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 07:34
  
  +6
  
  I take all my technical advice from Barnaby Joyce, so unfortunately this isnt a deal :)
  - itshammer on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
    
    Yeah Barnaby would likely recommend when pof, and match.com are on special
- Matwin23 on 27/04/2020 - 07:35
  
  +6
  
  this is crap and not a deal
- matt777 on 27/04/2020 - 07:35
  
  +35
  
  After all the crap we install on our phones I'm sure we can install this.
  If it saves just one life it's worth it.
  It doesn't ask for every permission like those crappy games we all download.
  
  Please install this app everyone.
  Think of the money you will save on cleaning products and hand sanitizer.
  
  The OzBargain community is the best. Please come together on this.
  - lubos on 27/04/2020 - 08:00
    
    +28
    
    As a programmer, I endorse this comment. Apple/Google already track our location. Mobile phone operators already track our location. If government really wanted to know our location, they could force companies to give them access to data. They didn't. Instead they are doing this transparently and giving people option to opt-in. That's how western democracy should function. We need to cooperate at least this once.
    
    One day, there is going to be much more lethal virus than Covid-19. We are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. Perhaps this app works and when really lethal virus comes along, we are going to have better outcome by leveraging the technology.
    - knk on 27/04/2020 - 09:25
      
      +1
      
      IT Consultant here, so not the same level of understanding as lubos no doubt but a lot more than the average person. Like it's been said, you use any public service, Google, Facebook etc you're already divulging a heap of information. An app like this designed to save lives, not show people what you had for lunch or how you're working out during covid. This isn't what people should be (profanity) opposed to.
      
      For what it's worth I dont "trust" their management of data, but I do trust their intentions in this case. The 'risk' (I have nothing to hide) is much lower than the reward of potentially stopping an exponential infection.
      
      I've installed it, and recommend everyone does.
  - INFIDEL on 27/04/2020 - 08:24
    
    +2
    
    Think of the money you will save on cleaning products and hand sanitizer.
    
    This app is not an alternative for preventative measures!! And the virus isn't going away.
    This app is useful only after someone is infected - to trace some, not all, of their close, prolonged contacts. It's an administrative tool.
    
    If you play by the preventative rules and stay 1.5m away from others (or come closer for less than 15 minutes) you won't even be recorded by the app.
    
    And the other person needs the app installed to detect any close prolonged interactions. (According to yesterday's media briefing.)
    
    The app could have had a preventative function of warning when in close contact & again when contact is prolonged. That was not the function of this App's design - it's just to help in tracing after infection.
    
    It won't stop or detect transmission from touching surfaces touched by infected others! So keep up those preventative measures.
    
    So regularly washing hands with soap, hand sanitizer & cleaning products are just as important to use after installing this App!
    
    A real danger of this app is some people may think it is a preventative measure - a magical talisman that will protect them from the virus. So they will stop or reduce preventative measures that are working.
    
    The app's only use is after someone contracts the virus - to quickly, efficiently & effectively determine who has been close to them for more than 15 minutes & had the app installed & Bluetooth on!
    So normal contact tracing is still necessary as not all contacts & not all points of transmission will be traced!
    
    Install the app, but it won't magically protect you or necessarily lower the spread of the virus - unless people also maintain their use of preventative measures.
    
    So keep up the preventative measures & follow the rules.
- hkf on 27/04/2020 - 07:37
  
  +11
  
  sorry but don't see a deal.
  - mxlegend99 on 27/04/2020 - 07:43
    
    +7
    
    Definitely not a deal.
    - hungrywolf on 27/04/2020 - 08:09
      
      +1
      
      Not a deal.
      - bryans on 27/04/2020 - 08:37
        
        +3
        
        @hungrywolf: Totally agree
  - bulldoges on 27/04/2020 - 08:51
    
    No Deal
- Cheeper on 27/04/2020 - 07:38
  
  +23
  
  Until there is an effective vaccine for this thing it is always going to be around.
  How long until that effective vaccine is developed is another thing… months or years??
  We could resume regular life now and maintain social distancing and more personal hygiene practices and see how it goes.
  Infections will need to be tracked and acted on to maintain control, this is where the app will benefit medical personnel.
  Too many silly people out there making too much noise and fearing big brother is watching them. Ignore them for once.
  - UncleRico on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
    
    +1
    
    How are they going with that SARS vaccine?
    
    I agree with your point, but virus's can be eradicated or at least controlled without vaccines.
    - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:58
      
      *some viruses
    - Foxxster on 27/04/2020 - 08:35
      
      No corona virus of which SARS is one has ever had a vaccine developed for it. And corona viruses were first discovered in the 1930s. So nobody should get their hopes up that this new corona virus, the WuHu bat stew variant will ever have a vaccine.
    - matt-ozb on 27/04/2020 - 14:04
      
      stopped development as the SARS coronavirus died out
      - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 14:20
        
        @matt-ozb: Not according to Russia. :p
  - robredo on 27/04/2020 - 08:37
    
    I’m surprised this comment has so many upvotes considering this whole idea of “we need a vaccine” totally disregards the fact that the human body has a main line of defence against viruses; it’s called an immune system, which can be enhanced by a healthy diet that provides all the essential vitamins and minerals. Governments have locked down entire economies to save lives? Give me a break…maybe if they adopted the convention wisdom of containing those most at risk i.e. the elderly and those with existing illnesses and left everyone else to keep this economy going this whole thing would have passed already.
    - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:42
      
      +2
      
      Hindsight is always 20/20. Perhaps you should think back at when this first started and they didn't know who was affected. Would you have been OK for them to take decisions like that and discover later that kids did spread it but remained asymptomatic? I think the government response has been over the top but probably exactly what was needed given the amazingly low number of deaths here..
      - robredo on 27/04/2020 - 09:01
        
        @[Deactivated]: This brings into question why there haven’t been randomised tests in countries to determine the actual infection rate for COVID-19. Sure this information must be known before imposing what appear to be draconian measures on the people in the name of public safety?
    - matt-ozb on 27/04/2020 - 14:05
      
      vitamins & minerals wont stop HIV nor COVID-19
      - robredo on 27/04/2020 - 19:52
        
        @matt-ozb: COVID-19 is flu like in transmission and symptoms. Not sure how you've connected the dots to HIV…
- Watchandlisten on 27/04/2020 - 07:39
  
  +8
  
  Not a deal, app has always been free.
  - reigndragon on 27/04/2020 - 09:02
    
    It is free personal monitoring and helps to lower the flocks resistance to the deterioration of their personal privacy
- burkey on 27/04/2020 - 07:40
  
  +8
  
  Not a deal, and until it's clearly defined how they are handling your data, do you really want to hand over all your movements to an unknown source? Look at how bad the government screwed up handling the internet metadata…
  - Cheeper on 27/04/2020 - 07:42
    
    +4
    
    What have you got to hide??? Do you understand the reason for the app?
    Life has changed…
    - FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 08:00
      
      +13
      
      What have you got to hide???
      
      Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say
    - ThighHighDemise on 27/04/2020 - 08:03
      
      +10
      
      What have you got to hide???
      
      Do you draw your curtains at night?
      Do you lock your doors?
      What have you got to hide?
  - madgino on 27/04/2020 - 07:46
    
    +10
    
    it doesn't record your movement, it's a tracing app not a tracking app. Doesn't use your GPS only your Bluetooth. Some people…
  - Phredie on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
    
    100% agree. I'll be more than happy to download the app once the source code is released and reviewed.
    - SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 08:06
      
      +4
      
      Android?
      Its been decompiled so job done.
      Download it now?
  - Yoo on 27/04/2020 - 07:58
    
    +5
    
    Isn't it clear enough already? https://www.health.gov.au/using-our-websites/privacy/privacy…
    - Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:02
      
      +3
      
      You expect them to actually do their own research? 😂😂😂
    - cwongtech on 27/04/2020 - 08:31
      
      +1
      
      When you register for COVIDSafe
      We will ask you to consent to the collection of your:
      * mobile phone number – so that you can be contacted if needed for contact tracing
      * name – so the relevant health officials can confirm they are speaking to the right person when performing contact tracing. This will be easiest if you provide your full name, but you can use a pseudonym or fake name if you prefer
      * age range– so health officials can prioritise cases for contact tracing, if needed
      * postcode –to make sure health officials from the right State or Territory who work in your area can contact you, and to prioritise cases for contact tracing, e.g. hotspot areas
      
      mobile phone number – so that you can be contacted if needed for contact tracing
      
      Emergency services can see who a mobile number is registered to, you can no longer activate mobile phone numbers with BobsMyUncle like in the past.. (when you dial 000)
      
      Name - as above
      Postcode - as above
      Age range - as above
      
      Really, asking you for your consent is more a publicity thing to make you feel like you're in control
  - [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:05
    
    +1
    
    Do you understand how the app even works?
- captain smash on 27/04/2020 - 07:41
  
  +16
  
  For those asking how is this a deal?
  
  Well, it could be saving your life or someone else’s. If that’s not the mf deal of the century, you’re doin’ it wrong
  - Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:03
    
    +3
    
    At least we know who in our community here isn't taking it seriously.
    - Dealhunter967671 on 27/04/2020 - 08:07
      
      +3
      
      I haven’t left my house except for 3 grocery shops and a few walks around the block in 4 weeks, I’ve declined all family and friends to come over and visit, and I negged this post. I don’t think we should ever take to generalising statements like this comment.

COVID-19 Tracking App Mega Discussion Thread

Poll Options

Comments

New Forum Topics