NY/NJ Rollout Covid Tracing App
Would you sign up for this?
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/ny-nj-roll-out-covid-alert-app-to-notify-users-of-proximity-to-cases
CraftBeerBob 
OP 
Ollie 
Greg 
auntiel 
MK 
Strangerdanger It actually does not identify you. Google and Apple made sure of that at the beginning. Still Google and Apple know where you go and who you are..
Apps like this have been used in Europe to great success. Millions of people in England use it and it was helpful.
In a place like nyc with a dense population it would be super helpful. As the numbers rise in the fall, it would behoove us all to download and use the app. It's going to be a rough winter and every bit helps.
Contract tracing hasn't been successful for the most part because people don't answer their phones due to all the robo calls. With this app, you just get notified if you were in proximity of someone who might have infected you. Once you know that, you can take precautions.. Isolate a bit, get a test.. Find out if you are OK.
Really it's a win. America can't get ahead of the virus... Because... Well... America. The fastest way to getting life back to normal is through things like this and cooperation.
As sort of a repeat from above, if you are worried about your personal liberties and have an phone made by Apple or Android.. If you own an Alexa thing, or a fire TV, you have already given up those liberties. We are all fodder to big data. Does it make our lives easier? For me I kind of dig it. Can we all download an app to speed up our economic recovery? I would hope so but I doubt it.
Ser positivo plus one: Ser positivito! Fer sure. Anything to stop the virus and keep ourselves, loved ones and neighbors safe. There are those who believe and those who do not. Even if you do not believe, please mask up out of consideration to your family and community.
For reals "Does anyone believe that? lol"
Sheep believe it.
I still have a flip phone. LOL
But if I didn't, no freakin' way!
Calico696 
ItiswhatitisOur phones already track people. If you are that hardcore then you need to not have a cell phone, and all computers too...
iJay Ijay
This app records the cellphone data of cellphones in your vicinity...like facebook does and then sends suggested friends..the covid app reports back to the authorities so that they can contact people if you ever test positive.. thanks but no thanks
That sounds terribly transparent to know who might be contagious. What is the real threat to your personal privacy? Knowing and being known? Does freedom mean staying hidden, in the dark, unwilling to even get a heads up as to personal danger or unwilling to let others know the danger you might be to other innocents? That’s not my definition of liberty.
thecoach Nope. Do not believe for 1 second that your privacy is protected. Also, with so much spread, and knowing compliance will be low it's a fruitless effort.
Somechick1 I don’t agree that giving in, giving up is the best answer. Privacy-wise, “they” already know anything about you that they want to know. So, why care about that. Herd immunity on the other hand requires 10 times or more of us to be affected. We flattened the curve. We kept it flat. Now we are spiking so choose; contact tracing or keep on spiking until you have to close er down. That’s your freedom of choice point IMO.
If the main reason not to do this is privacy you should already know your privacy has already been stolen the day you signed on to Facebook, Instagram, email, did your taxes online, got a cellphone, used GPS, purchased ezpass, used on online banking or brokerage account, pay your bills on line or any of the hundreds of things you do on a month to month basis. Think about it
PaulyWalnutz Just as PaulyWalnutz stated
Not only that, but that ShopRite, Weiss, CVS, Best Buy, etc. rewards cards with the little bar code on it that so many have. Just having a computer or using a credit card anywhere too.
Here's an interesting example:
https://www.broadridge.com/customer-communications/general/transform-data-into-customer-and-communications-insights/consumer-preference-and-profile-management
"Combines consumer information with data derived from their use of channels and third-party sources to generate comprehensive profiles that will enable you to better understand and deliver communications that meet their needs."
"80%+
North American households reached.
5K+
Brands trust Broadridge to deliver their essential communications.
95%
U.S. consumers connect to the channels in the Communications Cloud."
Lots of "Big Brothers" out there, lol, or maybe not lol!
Phil D. What I wonder is who is sitting behind all those bubble cameras on the highway and where do they store all that stuff?
Or who’s looking down at all the ladies and men’s shirts from the sky cams above the ShopRite check-outs? What kind of person takes that job?
And yet they still can’t find Waldo?
The government has far more power than a private company...collecting marketing info is intrusive but really doesn't interfere with everyday life...the government could use this info to control people's live by banning them from flying...issuing tickets for being at a large unauthorized gathering...political prosecution...the list goes on and on
I am still up in the air with the cost versus benefit. Cost meaning the potential cost to my privacy. If this was China you would not have a choice.
strangerdanger: On the same page here. Everyone should watch The Social Dilemma or The Big Hack on Netflix. Our privacy has been long gone. It's interesting that when it comes to Covid and a helpful app that people suddenly go berserk about their privacy. Everything that got in the way of flattening the curve as a nation has boiled down to civil liberties over a freaking piece of fabric. That just shows how devolved we are as a society. So, now we will devolve from masks infringing on civil liberties to privacy from an app that could help keep you safe despite all our exposure on social media from the get-go.
IMO, most people are unaware of the privacy invasion concerning their use of social media. However, invasion of privacy concerning the COVID tracing app is quite apparent. That’s why some folks don’t like it. Awareness is key.
BC I certainly have noticed that the supreme privacy afforded those at the highest levels of our society has proven woefully ineffective as of late.
Meanwhile, love it or hate it, the draconian lack of privacy measures of Asia and the less private measures Socialists of the EU are doing better in this war than we on all results.
Sometimes, in war, some civil liberties need to be weighed in as a cost of victory. Same was true post 9/11.
Right now, contact tracing is a most powerful weapon in a woefully sparce set of armaments against this enemy.
Applause. Applause. Applause. Strangerdanger. And amen. Contact tracing and mask wearing.
Holy cow. There's a ton of misinformation in this thread.
I've done a lot of reading on the subjects of information security and privacy, and most recently into contact tracing and these apps. My background is in the information technology field.
Firstly, a quick note that Facebook does not use location data for the People You May Know feature. You can control for this and test for this, at least on Android. What it does use is the data you give it. Specifically the contacts you upload into the app. Plus any interactions you have with people within their ecosystem. That and some math gives you your recommendations.
Onto the contact tracing app. Here's a quick rundown: The app is only the front end, built onto the back-end developed by Google and Apple in response to the pandemic. Each app is developed by specific organizations/governments - not private companies like Google/Apple because, frankly, they don't want to get involved in the logistics and legal matters around the world. It just wouldn't be feasible.
-The app & funtionality is 100% opt-in.
-The app does not track location data whatsoever. It utilizes bluetooth.
-The app does not share your identity. It generates a random hash that changes every few minutes (like a two factor identification code, you might use one to login to your bank account).
-Phones will contact each other via bluetooth in the background and share these randomized hashes with each other if they're within 6 feet for 10+ minutes. (No wifi/cell data utilized).
-If someone reports they have COVID later on, any phone that came in contact in the last 14 days will receive a notification.
-If you test positive, a public health representative will call you and ask if you'll anonymously notify the app you have COVID. ONLY then will it notify other people, and it will not say who or where.
People have done teardowns of these apps (not this one yet since it was just released) and they're all doing what they say they do. There's nothing shady going on underneath the surface. If you're interested check out what Troy Hunt has said on the matter. He is well respected in the InfoSec community.
Anyone familiar with the health industry knows that HIPAA isn't something to mess around with. Private health information is VERY well protected in this country. Your neighbor is not going to find out you have COVID from this app or your doctor. Not unless NJ wants a massive class action lawsuit and your doctor decided he doesn't want a job anymore.
Unfortunately these apps only work when people use them. If only 2 people in Hackettstown download it and use it, then it's not worth it. Understandably people are concerned about privacy issues. Telling them "they already have your location" doesn't help, even if it is true. I suspect we'll encounter similar issues with people not trusting the vaccines when they come out.
I get it, this stuff is scary and the government/these companies don't always give us a good reason to trust them in the past. But we are dealing with an unprecedented situation here. Masks, social distancing, and contact tracing are our best methods of fighting this until a vaccine arrives.
Link for info and download: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/app
Fact Sheet: https://files.covid19.nj.gov/covidalert/04_fact_sheet.pdf
Privacy Policy: https://www.nj.gov/health/documents/DPP_COVIDALERTNJ.pdf
hiker This will give you something to do today, but won't even scratch the surface.
All the Data Google Has Collected About You and How to Delete It
https://gizmodo.com/everything-google-knows-about-you-and-how-to-delete-it-1834633034
dodgebaal Thanks hiker, that's a really great post. I know not everyone is tech savvy and postures themselves to not hand over personal data out of safety and fear, but honestly a solution like this would be really great if it could be adopted en masse. I'm not sure our culture will allow it.
Jay I just got my new phone so I can support it; loading up soon. Then I’ll drive to Ocean County to strike it rich!!
Strangerdanger
What, is James Patterson running out of writers for his pool of talent?
I very much like the idea of these apps. My concern is that I work, and therefore spend the majority of my waking hours, in PA. So I feel like if I'm ever exposed to the virus it would be far more likely in PA than in NJ. I'm wondering if it would work to load both the NJ and PA apps one the same phone?
Monty Monty, Great Question.
Think it's an "it depends," and I didn't see PA transparency --- yet.
here's where it is:
https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/01/covid-19-exposure-notification-api-states/
here's the fact that sharing between states is both a possibility and does happen (ny/nj)
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/03/covid-app-exposure-notification-apple-google.html
@monty - Per the NJ site "You only need to download one COVID Alert app from your state of residence. NJ, NY, DE, and PA have worked together as a region to ensure all COVID Alert apps will work across the states with an app."
So you can just run the NJ app and it'll work fine! (source: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/covid-alert-nj:-overview scroll to bottom)
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