A new technology could soon alert people if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. It is currently being tested to see if it works in Australia. Google and Apple developed a COVID-19 exposure notification system and are encouraging health authorities worldwide to adopt it. They hope this will enhance contact tracing apps, including Australia’s COVIDSafe.
The technology is available to governments globally, and 22 countries, including Australia, have already accessed it. A spokesperson for Government Services Minister Stuart Robert confirmed that the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and the Department of Health are working with Apple and Google to test the Exposure Notification Framework in Australia.
How does it work?
Apple and Google designed the application programming interface (API) to support, not replace, local contact tracing efforts. The API addresses many technical challenges that contact tracing apps, such as COVIDSafe, face.
Like COVIDSafe, the API uses Bluetooth to log nearby devices. However, COVIDSafe has struggled to work effectively on iPhones. At launch, the government claimed COVIDSafe was reliable, but later, DTA CEO Randall Brugeaud admitted that iPhones often failed to record close contacts due to Bluetooth limitations.
“The Bluetooth connection works well when the app runs in the foreground,” he said. “But it deteriorates when the phone locks and the app runs in the background.”
Software updates may have improved COVIDSafe on iPhones, but the DTA has not explained the specific enhancements. Department of Health CIO Daniel Keys stated they continue to optimize Bluetooth operations, insisting the app now works as designed.
Apple and Google argue that their API solves these issues. Without it, Bluetooth-based apps drain batteries and struggle to detect interactions between iPhones and Android devices.
How is the API different from COVIDSafe?
COVIDSafe stores encrypted contact logs on devices. Health authorities can request permission to access this data when someone tests positive.
The Apple/Google API operates differently. It decentralizes the process and limits data flow to authorities. Thinking Cybersecurity CEO Vanessa Teague explained, “The key difference is how much information passes through central authorities.”
Under the API, users can voluntarily report a positive test. Their close contacts would then receive an anonymous notification directly on their phones. Authorities would not automatically know who was exposed unless users choose to share their details.
Can Australia use the API?
The Department of Health is evaluating whether the API can integrate with COVIDSafe. However, Apple and Google impose strict conditions. Apps using the API cannot require personal details as a condition for use. COVIDSafe currently requires a name, phone number, postcode, and age range before installation.
Teague believes the API could resolve COVIDSafe’s technical flaws, but the government may hesitate to give up control. A decentralized model could encourage more Australians to use the app by assuring privacy.
“The decision is clear,” she said. “We can keep a centralized system and lose users who fear privacy breaches, or adopt a decentralized one that builds trust.”
The government now faces a critical choice — balance improved technology with the control it needs for effective contact tracing.
Article Courtesy: www.abc.net.au
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