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The federal government-backed exposure notification smartphone app has launched, marking the beginning of a new frontier in the coronavirus fight: alerting participating Canadians when they come in proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The app—called COVID Alert— will compile anonymized data and use reports from confirmed positive COVID-19 cases to notify Canadians when they’ve been in proximity to someone who has the virus. It has received the stamp of approval from federal and provincial privacy watchdogs, though it leaves infection contact tracing up to public health officials.
While the initial rollout is just underway in Ontario, Canadians across the country are able, and are being encouraged to download the app in anticipation of more provincial and territorial health authorities signing on to use the new software. Talks are ongoing with other provinces to come on board in the coming days, including New Brunswick and British Columbia, with a federal source saying that all Atlantic provinces are “very close” to signing on to use the app.
The federal government-backed exposure notification smartphone app has launched, marking the beginning of a new frontier in the coronavirus fight: alerting participating Canadians when they come in proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The app—called COVID Alert— will compile anonymized data and use reports from confirmed positive COVID-19 cases to notify Canadians when they’ve been in proximity to someone who has the virus. It has received the stamp of approval from federal and provincial privacy watchdogs, though it leaves infection contact tracing up to public health officials.
While the initial rollout is just underway in Ontario, Canadians across the country are able, and are being encouraged to download the app in anticipation of more provincial and territorial health authorities signing on to use the new software. Talks are ongoing with other provinces to come on board in the coming days, including New Brunswick and British Columbia, with a federal source saying that all Atlantic provinces are “very close” to signing on to use the app.
It uses anonymized data that does not collect users’ location, name or address, phone contacts, or health information.
“No one will know who you are or where you have been,” says the federal government in a new promotional video.
However, citing protection against “cyberattacks,” Canadian servers will store users’ IP addresses for three months, or up to two years in the case of an attack. The government says this is “a standard part of how the Government of Canada protects online systems from cybersecurity threats.”
ALERT TO GET TESTED
The notification users will receive if they may have come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case lets them know that they are at risk of being infected and prompts them to contact their local public health agency to determine next steps.
“You’ve had close contact with someone who reported a COVID-19 diagnosis through the app. Learn more about what to do next,” reads the example of a push notification users would receive.
During the technical briefing, federal officials emphasized that it should not be considered a contact tracing app, though it has previously been described as such by federal and provincial politicians.
Traditional contact tracing—people making calls for various public health agencies to help track down anyone who may have come into contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases—will continue across Canada.
The app was supposed to launch in early July but was delayed as more testing was conducted, and some provinces have already launched their own digital tracing methods including Alberta, meaning Canada could end up with a patchwork of applications being used across the country and, as a result, limited efficacy when it comes to interprovincial spread.
PRIVACY WATCHDOGS ON SIDE
In an effort to assuage privacy concerns the government has formed an 11-member advisory council of external public health, mobile app, data security, epidemiology, and privacy experts that will be regularly reporting to the government to “inform decision-making with respect to the app.”
Officials also said that there has been “extensive” engagement with the Privacy Commissioner’s office.
In a new joint statement, federal Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien and Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario Patricia Kosseim say they have looked at the fine print of the app’s privacy and permissions settings and support Canadians using the app.
“Canadians can opt to use this technology knowing it includes very significant privacy protections,” said Therrien in a statement. “I will use it.”
Therrien had previously raised concerns about the adequacy of current privacy laws to protect Canadians should a breach occur, and his new statement indicates there is still room for improvement, noting that given the app doesn’t collect personal information, it is in the government’s view that the federal Privacy Act does not apply.
“This is again cause for modernizing our laws so that they effectively protect Canadian citizens,” he said.
The privacy watchdogs assessed the app and were supportive of the voluntary nature, but cautioned that there is still a risk that third parties may seek users to disclose information related to their use of the app, and there are plans to continue to assess the app as more Canadians begin using it.
“Based on our review of the app and acceptance of our recommendations, I am satisfied that there are strong measures built in to help protect individual privacy,” Kosseim said.
The app was originally developed by the Government of Ontario and the federal Canadian Digital Service has worked with Shopify and Blackberry on the new software, which Apple and Google have teamed up to offer.
“I think they did a really good job. They were totally aware that theres going to be some hesitancy with people using this app,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch on CTV News Channel.
“Now the key thing here is will enough Canadians download the app?”
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THOMAS RHETT
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DREW BALDRIDGE
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