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.

Related links:

Health.gov.au - General information
Coronavirus Australia - Apple App
Coronavirus Australia - Android App
COVIDsafe Contact Tracing app for Apple
COVIDSafe Contact Tracing app for Android

Threads:

COVID-19 Megathread

Wearing Masks -Wearing Masks 2 - Shops with Masks
Lockdown Activities - Lockdown Tips & Tricks - Lockdown Deals - Lockdown - Entertaining Kids - Shopping List -
Hand Sanitiser - Expired Hand Sanitisers - Cheap Sanitiser
Reporting Price Gougers - Punishing Price Gougers - Retailers & Empty Shelves - Retailers & Empty Shelves 2 - Infected Goods from China - Raising EFTPOS Limits - Amazon US Warehouse Only Re-stocking Medical & Staples - Reselling Lysol Wipes
AMA with a Doctor - Parcel Delays - Buying/Selling Home - - Gym - House Inspections - Private Health Insurance - Energy Providers
Overseas Travel - Singapore Airport Closed - QLD Border Closed - Flying to Closed Country - Flying to NZ - Flying to Tasmania
Hotels.com Refund - 3rd Party OTA Refunds - BYOJet, Aunt Betty Changes/Refunds - Groupon Refund - Travel Insurance - Travel Insurance 2
Schools/Universities - Keeping Kids at Home - Keeping Kids at Home 2
Your Job - Work from Home Companies - Pay Cut - Qantas Staff - Tips to Protecting Yourself (Financially)

Other:

OzBargain's Guide to Self Isolation (Deals & More)
Deals for Healthcare Workers

Mod: Original Description:

… for a 'good cause'?

The Federal Government believes restrictions on the community could be eased in the months ahead if there's more testing, greater surveillance of those infected by the coronavirus and much faster tracing of those they've had contact with.

It is developing a mobile phone app with the private sector to help monitor Australians' daily interactions. The app will use the user's GPS to do so.

Edit : This is how the app will work according to the Government Services Minister :

When you download it, you will be reuquired to enter:

  • your name
  • your age range
  • your postcode
  • your phone number

He said when people were within 1.5 metres for 15 minutes, the app via Bluetooth, would record the other person's name and phone number.

"It would stay securely encrypted on your phone," Mr Robert said.
"If I was confirmed positive, my data goes up to a central data store, only to state health officials, no-one else, and then they could rapidly call anyone I had been in close contact with."

Poll Options

  • 148
    Yes.Why?
  • 251
    No. Why?
  • 2
    Other
Mobile COVID-19

Comments

          • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:08
            +3

            @Dealhunter967671: What's the concern with this app?

            • Dealhunter967671 on 27/04/2020 - 08:26
              +1

              @Clear: I personally don’t have any major concerns with the app after the public discourse and industry experts scrutiny (apart from the fact the keys are stored in the same AWS server as the data - should be separated in a private sovereign cloud), think it’s a good idea for people that are out and about in public for sure!

              Just not…an OZB deal…

              • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:27

                @Dealhunter967671: "not a deal" isn't a valid reason to neg a deal. You need to explain why it's "not a deal".

                Doesn't matter at this point though.

    • T1OOO on 27/04/2020 - 07:41
      +3

      Come on dude

    • Davo1111 on 27/04/2020 - 07:41
      +4

      always free

    • Bullion78 on 27/04/2020 - 07:42
      -2

      What is this…the fuqing project? People are beyond stupid.

    • CheapieChippie on 27/04/2020 - 07:43
      +8

      I don't think this is going to get us going back to normal.

      To do that we need to get everyone to mask up and so that social distancing can be mostly ignored as the droplets won't travel far and people won't be touching their mouthes and noses. It's really that simple… Until then the app is a placebo.

      • dajackal on 27/04/2020 - 07:48
        +2

        Every country is encouraging/enforcing masks.

        Australia: Nope masks doesn't work.

        • CJ31 on 27/04/2020 - 08:44

          Masks are more useful in winter. Wearing masks in a hot Australian summer would be a nightmare. Cooler winter suits masks, virus also lasts longer, so it makes more sense.

          Second, in a lockdown they are less useful. As the economy opens up, masks behind more useful as there are more contacts between people.

      • Elyxar on 27/04/2020 - 08:02
        +1

        15 minute contact setting is going to do very little. 10 minute ride in an Uber won’t trigger this. Lots of other instances where this app will also fail. 80% placebo.

      • skid on 27/04/2020 - 08:53

        Wow, first sensible post. Unfortunately it's on page 2.

        Australia will get back to normal when it is safe. No earlier, no later. This app has no bearing on when it will be safe. Placebo is a good way of describing it.

        I will install the app not because I believe it'll help us relax the restrictions but because I want people to be notified if they could have caught the virus.

    • DannyBoy on 27/04/2020 - 07:43
      +1

      The best form of stopping the spread is eliminating yourselves from contact, it's a simply concept no one is following. This app isn't going to do anything

      • inasero on 27/04/2020 - 08:04
        +1

        Can you back up your claims that "no one" is isolating themselves?

    • markdownhunter on 27/04/2020 - 07:44
      +2

      it isn't free, it's all tax payer funded to make and run the app. not a deal

    • elgrande on 27/04/2020 - 07:44
      +4

      Not a deal.

    • LaTerrible on 27/04/2020 - 07:44
      +5

      Looooooooooooooooooool

    • Stinge Master on 27/04/2020 - 07:44
      +5

      Not a deal

    • antonthenet on 27/04/2020 - 07:45
      +2

      This is not a deal.

    • Randolph Duke on 27/04/2020 - 07:46
      -1

      Might be a deal for the government, getting citizens to freely give up their daily movements.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:53
        +9

        Misinformation.
        It pings nearby bluetooth, it does not track location.

        If you have objection, back it up with substantial evidence. This is about saving lives, and you'd rather put your tinfoil hat on.

        • Randolph Duke on 27/04/2020 - 08:22
          +3

          Pretty easy to be cautious when the ISP tracking data has been breached. See: AFP raids on journalists.

          • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:23

            @Randolph Duke: Caution and misinformation are two different things.

        • markdownhunter on 27/04/2020 - 08:24
          -1

          https://postimg.cc/7G8G52f5

          • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:27
            +1

            @markdownhunter: "Android users will have to give COVIDSafe location permissions, but this is only due to requirements Bluetooth has for running on those devices."
            Source:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/coronavirus-tracing-app-covidsafe-australia-covid-19-data/12186068

            If you're curious about the actual permissions it's requesting:
            https://github.com/ghuntley/COVIDSafe_1.0.11.apk

      • Domingo on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
        +3

        Look up how it works. It doesn't give up your movements

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:05
        +4

        Do you understand how the app even works?

        • CJ31 on 27/04/2020 - 09:05

          I don't think many of the objectors have looked into it. They seem to predominantly objecting because of headlines (lazy) or to score political points (not the time or place). All the breakdowns from experts that have looked into the code have confirmed it protects privacy as well they could have. I'm no fan or Dutton, Hunt or Morrison but they have this about as privacy safe as possible, if anything they have erred on the side of privacy over efficiency

      • Randolph Duke on 27/04/2020 - 08:35

        Ok, downloaded the iOS app, it does not ask for location permissions, so I would edit my comments but not able too. Still will be a pain to use on iOS until Bluetooth background API’s are available, and would prefer to see source code to see what exactly is sent.

        Neg removed.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:39

          Thankyou.

      • madgino on 27/04/2020 - 07:47
        +13

        it doesn't record your movement, it's a tracing app not a tracking app. Doesn't use your GPS only your Bluetooth. Get your facts straight…

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
        +8

        How about you actually understand how the app works before making bulls*it misleading remarks?

      • chrism238 on 27/04/2020 - 07:58
        +6

        Read (ask an adult if you need help) this feed: https://twitter.com/matthewrdev/status/1254336105203200000
        It does not record nor upload location.
        It stores all data in Australia.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:58
        +5

        It does NOT even use location. People really need to learn before speaking. You download countless apps that use location permissions and don't bat an eye. This one doesn't use location and fools be like NO WAY.

        Go to Google Maps on your phone, go to settings and tap 'my timeline.' Take a look at the to the minute tracking of your location that has been done there. Where you've gone, what time you left, what time you arrived, your mode of transport, places you stopped along the way etc. All without you realising

        • buckster on 27/04/2020 - 08:17

          What I don't get is why they need our post code when signing up if they have our mobile number already.

      • t3chshopper on 27/04/2020 - 07:59
        +4

        So pretty much everything you wrote is wrong.

      • cashie on 27/04/2020 - 08:01
        +1

        Location, are you serious. Get informed before spreading bs. It doesn’t even use gps (at least on an iPhone).
        Stored offshore, yeah right.
        IMO only those with something to hide would be against this.

        • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 08:13
          +1

          Let the government put cameras in your house, only people with something to hide would be worried by this.

          • SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 08:17

            @brendanm: pretty long stretch between
            - 'your phone's bluetooth tx/rx swapped info with someone elses bluetooth tx/rx over a period of time' AND 'you or they have tested positive and actually uploaded that data for review and user contacting'

            • its 1984, the government is watching our every move and putting cameras in our houses and restricting my freedoms

            put a bit of rationale behind those arguments

          • cashie on 27/04/2020 - 10:00

            @brendanm: And a camera is the same as this app, seriously?
            Go read the twitter link above or one of the other many compilations of the app and then say you're still worried "the man" is going to get you.

            • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 10:13
              -1

              @cashie: If you have nothing to hide, why would a camera be an issue?

        • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:29
          +1

          "Android users will have to give COVIDSafe location permissions, but this is only due to requirements Bluetooth has for running on those devices."
          Source:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/coronavirus-tracing-app-covidsafe-australia-covid-19-data/12186068

          If you're curious about the actual permissions it's requesting:
          https://github.com/ghuntley/COVIDSafe_1.0.11.apk

    • retainer on 27/04/2020 - 07:47
      +4

      Not a deal

    • quaddie on 27/04/2020 - 07:47

      Not a deal. Shove this app somewhere unpleasant.

    • PrimeMinister on 27/04/2020 - 07:47
      +4

      Everybody expects government responsibility towards them, now it's our responsibility towards government. Let's give back something. Less it spreads more we safe.

      • Elyxar on 27/04/2020 - 08:07
        +1

        When did we get government responsibility? I’m still waiting for the ‘good government starts now’ that Abbott mentioned.

    • hugh2323 on 27/04/2020 - 07:47
      +3

      Obviously it is 'not a deal'. No duh. The point is, sometimes something is so important, that rules need to be broken.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
        -2

        Yep my thoughts exactly. @scotty, please sticky this ‘deal’, remove all comments and lock the thread.

        Edited to remove ambiguity

      • Mal68 on 27/04/2020 - 07:58
        +3

        The point is, sometimes something is so important, that rules need to be broken

        Haha you sound like a minister somewhere justifying using this data for unintended purposes

        • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:33

          Is that what the decompiled source code available of the app told you?

    • he11bent on 27/04/2020 - 07:48
      +22

      I'm not one for trusting the gov, hell, I don't even have the FB apps on my phone. But This is about saving lives, and besides, some of our brightest in the tech community have already taken it upon themselves to investigate the app, I 'm not going to explain all as people much smarter than me will do a better job with the links below; but TL:DR, the app is actually pretty well thought out and safe to use.
      https://twitter.com/matthewrdev/status/1254336105203200000
      https://medium.com/@LokiNetwork/covid-19-contact-tracing-get…

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:55

        Thankyou

      • SBOB on 27/04/2020 - 08:00

        That Twitter thread should be mandatory reading before someone can object to the app because it's 'tracking them' or 'uploading my location to amazon'
        (Obviously requires some technical knowledge but if you don't have any maybe you should listen to those that do anyway)

      • Alzori on 27/04/2020 - 08:13

        The second article sounds very reasonable, but it's made on a lot of assumptions from before this thing came out. I think it needs to be rewritten based on actual findings to be more credible.

    • britta on 27/04/2020 - 07:48
      +17

      Too many people wearing tinfoil hats in this thread….

      • xoom on 27/04/2020 - 07:52
        +6

        It's the 5G signal I swear.

        • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:34

          Did you see how the protestors were getting confused between 5G and 5G wifi. You can tell when people don't do their research 😉

    • Flying Ace on 27/04/2020 - 07:49
      +5

      This is not a deal or a bargain.

    • Maglia Nera on 27/04/2020 - 07:51
      +3

      hello SLO-MO

    • exidez on 27/04/2020 - 07:52
      +7

      I understand the intention but it shouldn't be advertised here as a bargain.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 07:52
      +2

      No go zone. Until it's an opensource code and everyone has access to it, I won't trust it.

      • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:06

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/8628715/redir

        Go see a breakdown of the code yourself then.

      • blehgg on 27/04/2020 - 08:08

        don't read the twitter thread… unpack it yourself

        • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:13

          Read the Twitter thread, learn how to unpack it yourself and compare*

          • blehgg on 27/04/2020 - 08:16

            @Clear: Yea - my point was the people with tinfoil hats aren't going to believe a twitter thread.

            Hell - they probably stamped it with "Fail" before it even came out.

            Hell - they probably already stamped it with "Fail" when covid started…

            • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:17

              @blehgg: They'll be too busy filtering the fluoride out of their water to read Twitter.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:28
          +1

          "Android users will have to give COVIDSafe location permissions, but this is only due to requirements Bluetooth has for running on those devices."
          Source:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/coronavirus-tracing-app-covidsafe-australia-covid-19-data/12186068

          If you're curious about the actual permissions it's requesting:
          https://github.com/ghuntley/COVIDSafe_1.0.11.apk

    • thorpef1 on 27/04/2020 - 07:53
      +3

      Don't think this counts as a deal

      • matt-ozb on 27/04/2020 - 08:12
        -2

        Don't think you're going outside then

    • ilikeit on 27/04/2020 - 07:53
      +1

      Thanks, gonna Broden the crap out of this this 'deal'.

    • Fastfoodoffers on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
      +5

      You'v got to be kidding me

    • mopo on 27/04/2020 - 07:54
      +3

      sorry, but this has always been free. it belongs in the forums.

    • Dsquall on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
      +9

      Definitely is a deal, it will help in gettig the economy to a functional level. We're still at the outset of this whole thing, the real shit hasn't even hit the fan yet, not even half way to the fan. Also, it's only $0 cause taxpayers have funded it. Don't delude yourself thinking anything the government does is actually free. Someone, somewhere is footing the bill.

      I love how even with a global pandemic and 200k dead in 2 months and global lockdowns, people are still panicking over letting go over a perceived impact on their freedoms for a limited amount of time.

      All the while, whenever you download some random app or signup to a third-party website you barely read the T&C's and just click yes.

      It's astounding.

    • MrBillions on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
      +1

      Are we e downvoting the app or the "deal" ?

      I suggest to add a vote option "are you installing it" ? Yes or no?

    • jjsnacks on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
      +4

      Not a deal.

    • trieup on 27/04/2020 - 07:55
      +4

      not appropriate

    • stemcellsss on 27/04/2020 - 07:56
      +2

      As thy said, not a deal. If the original price of something is free, still being free is NOT a discount.

    • itslittfam on 27/04/2020 - 07:56
      +3

      Shopback or cashrewards?

      • exidez on 27/04/2020 - 07:57
        +2

        nope, just taxes! :D

      • xoom on 27/04/2020 - 08:00

        Officeworks price beat or nothing.

    • ThithLord on 27/04/2020 - 07:56
      +3

      Not a deal

    • FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 07:56
      +1

      Privacy issues but even if it didn’t have any, it’s still not a deal

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:00
        +2

        How? Do you understand how the app even works?

        • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:03
          +3

          I'll let Alexa listen to my every (profanity) word to deliver me ads but as soon as the government wants to save lives by pinging nearby bluetooth devices…

          TOO FAR!

      • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:06
        +1

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/8628715/redir

        Go look at the code breakdown.

        • FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 08:18

          Not a deal either way.
          Will have a look a bit later, thanks

          • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:19
            +1

            @FireRunner: "I don't understand how this works so I'll neg it".

            • FireRunner on 27/04/2020 - 08:20

              @Clear: My neg has been always been two-fold. It’s a normally free app, any other free app beneficial or not is not a deal

              • Clear on 27/04/2020 - 08:21

                @FireRunner: There we go now we have a reason! Mods would normally remove the "not a deal" votes in a flash but they're deciding the validity of this deal I would think.

    • Flintz on 27/04/2020 - 07:57
      +7

      Don't trust the government to handle my data, have worked with them in IT

      https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-will-the-coronav…

      • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:00

        This is different.

        • Flintz on 27/04/2020 - 08:01
          +6

          Yea nah.

          • [Deactivated] on 27/04/2020 - 08:02
            -1

            @Flintz: Do you understand how the app even works?

    • leoa451 on 27/04/2020 - 07:57
      +6

      Saving the economy when the whole world crumbles is a pretty good deal. Having this shutdown is having a great toll on it. About the app.. It doesn't track your movement. Please do some research first. It only records Bluetooth addresses of nearby phones and this information is totally useless out of Healthcare emergency contacting context. What are they practically going to do with all this data which your app collected about other nearby phones in your local grocery store once the pandemic is over? Besides that it doesn't access your phone's GPS module and doesn't ask you to log in your movements. Stay safe and think about your part in helping the country get on track to economic recovery.

      • Dogsbreakfast on 27/04/2020 - 07:59

        So you have seen the source code and know where the data is being kept and who will access it.

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