Are you Going to use the COVIDsafe App?

[serfty]

I did research this a fair bit and I decided I was happy to:

Privacy Policy

The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps us support and protect you, your friends and family. Please read the content on this page before downloading.

www.health.gov.au

 

[harvyk]

Something which very important to note, those who have not downloaded the app are not necessarily lazy, stupid, an a-hole or any of the other terms that from time to time get bandied around.

There are some very legitimate concerns around privacy and this app that needed to be answered. We have all seen the fiasco of various other IT failures by the government, so there is some very good questions which need to be asked, and not just by the tin-foil hat brigade.

Whilst IMHO they have been answered I only feel confident in saying that because I have the ability to review technical documentation myself. Not everyone has the ability to review technical documentation / has a trusted person who can.

If you see someone who is on the fence, but has concerns, direct them to the appropriate resources so they can make an informed decision. There has now been a variety of articles written which explains what the app does, and why there isn't an overly heightened privacy risk from the app. Having concerns is a valid thing to do, helping someone overcome those concerns doesn't happen via name calling.

 

[gazzab]

Something which very important to note, those who have not downloaded the app are not necessarily lazy, stupid, an a-hole or any of the other terms that from time to time get bandied around.

There are some very legitimate concerns around privacy and this app that needed to be answered. We have all seen the fiasco of various other IT failures by the government, so there is some very good questions which need to be asked, and not just by the tin-foil hat brigade.

Whilst IMHO they have been answered I only feel confident in saying that because I have the ability to review technical documentation myself. Not everyone has the ability to review technical documentation / has a trusted person who can.

If you see someone who is on the fence, but has concerns, direct them to the appropriate resources so they can make an informed decision. There has now been a variety of articles written which explains what the app does, and why there isn't an overly heightened privacy risk from the app. Having concerns is a valid thing to do, helping someone overcome those concerns doesn't happen via name calling.

Harvyk, any articles you can point us to?

 

[harvyk]

Harvyk, any articles you can point us to?

I mean, my own post here in this forum is a good start -> Are you Going to use the COVIDsafe App?

But this article from the guardian isn't too bad either -> Covidsafe app: how to download Australia's coronavirus contact tracing app and how it works


Whilst of course I would say to simply google it, you do need to be careful of google searches as there is a lot of the misinformation around as well, which is a big part of the problem with the management of this pandemic,

 

[gazzab]

Cheers, have read your post in the weekend.

 

[moa999]

The hilarious thing is I have one 'friend' on Facebook who is very much part of the anti-vax/tinfoil/Yada brigade and some of the stuff posted (on Facebook) is hilarious.

Latest diatribe was about dangers of BT bluesnarfing, Amazon as a morally questionable company, tracking, consent and softening us up for an ID biochip.

Hilarious that this person who uses a smartwatch (so Bluetooth always on) posts about the dangers of the app on Facebook (an app which knows far more about you, aggressively tracks your movements and your interactions and would never release its source code)

The CovidSafe app collects a limited set of anonymous IDs for up to 21 days before deleting them. If you subsequently test positive they can use these IDs to help identify other people who may have been infected. That's it. No location, no photos, no likes etc.

 

[Himeno]

just need some encouragement - maybe endorsement from sports / media / entertainment, etc super stars

LOL. Getting so called "famous" people to encouragement would make it even less likely for some people to want to get it.
The only "famous" people I might give any time to considering any endorsement they might make of some government app aren't Australian and most don't use a conversational amount of English.

 

[Pushka]

LOL. Getting so called "famous" people to encouragement would make it even less likely for some people to want to get it.
The only "famous" people I might give any time to considering any endorsement they might make of some government app aren't Australian and most don't use a conversational amount of English.

Sadly, social influencers might just do the trick for some.

 

[tomlee1986]

LOL. Getting so called "famous" people to encouragement would make it even less likely for some people to want to get it.
The only "famous" people I might give any time to considering any endorsement they might make of some government app aren't Australian and most don't use a conversational amount of English.

I agree with you - the famous celebrity, or the sports star should be well known enough, but also common enough to the public... no point to get a well known person that the public dislike no matter how famous they are... the public should like the person as a common person, not just the celebrity status

 

[Lynda2475]

My main concern re ther app is its impact on battery life. Bluetooth and Location Services really drain battery life, I only turn BT or Location on when Im wanting to use my BT headphones (usually only on plane or commuting) or taking an Uber.

So I opted today to install on work mobile rather than my personal mobile, as if battery dies work will need to replace my phone but I cant afford a new personal mobile right now.

Interesting is that whilst all the PR for this app says it doesnt need your location, when you download the android app, after install in order to enable bluetooth it requires you to also turn on location, So either they set they wrong permissions in the Play Store, or the app is infact also tracking your location, otherwise no need to have location/gps on.

 

[Himeno]

I agree with you - the famous celebrity, or the sports star should be well known enough, but also common enough to the public... no point to get a well known person that the public dislike no matter how famous they are... the public should like the person as a common person, not just the celebrity status

and just about any person the government might select for such a thing would likely get one reaction from me (and many others) "Who is that? Why should I give a cough about what they think?"

 

[tomlee1986]

and just about any person the government might select for such a thing would likely get one reaction from me (and many others) "Who is that? Why should I give a cough about what they think?"

I am thinking of a group of not just sports stars, but scientists that are well known to promote it.. like Ian Frazer, and sports stars like Olympians that are well liked by the public in general...

(P.S. This should be also entertainment industry celebrities, media personality and others that are well known and respected by the public to get the desired effect). Sadly if it is just current politicians - it wont do as the public will feel the political hand and wont get a great result...

 

[jakeseven7]

and just about any person the government might select for such a thing would likely get one reaction from me (and many others) "Who is that? Why should I give a cough about what they think?"

I suspect they aren't targeting people like you, they are targeting the laggards and perhaps less well educated to take it up

 

[tomlee1986]

I suspect they aren't targeting people like you, they are targeting the laggards and perhaps less well educated to take it up

lol.. less educated! wouldn't they be talking to their family members whether it is a good thing to download this app or not?

 

[Daver6]

My main concern re ther app is its impact on battery life. Bluetooth and Location Services really drain battery life, I only turn BT or Location on when Im wanting to use my BT headphones (usually only on plane or commuting) or taking an Uber.

So I opted today to install on work mobile rather than my personal mobile, as if battery dies work will need to replace my phone but I cant afford a new personal mobile right now.

Interesting is that whilst all the PR for this app says it doesnt need your location, when you download the android app, after install in order to enable bluetooth it requires you to also turn on location, So either they set they wrong permissions in the Play Store, or the app is infact also tracking your location, otherwise no need to have location/gps on.

Let me address both your concerns.

Firstly, the blanket statement that Bluetooth and location services "really drain battery life" is factually incorrect. Poorly implemented usage in the early days of smart phones, this could have been the case. These days, Android and iOS have safeguards in place to stop this happening from apps. Additionally, Bluetooth was originally designed from the ground up to be low power and efficient usage of power. This is even more so the case with Bluetooth 4 on upwards.

Secondly regarding the permission on Android. The two permissions are lumped together because in theory a Bluetooth scan could be used to determine your location. Eg a beacon in a shopping centre. I hope that provides some clarification.

As a data point, the COVIDSafe on my S20 uses less than 1.5% of my battery usage.

 

[jakeseven7]

As a data point, the COVIDSafe on my S20 uses less than 1.5% of my battery usage.

Same with my Apple. Sigh, people should just try it and see rather than demanding proof.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just having location services on even with no app running definately does affect batetry life, I can go a couple of days without charging phone with locations services turned off, if they are on (even if no apps running) i have to charge daily. Either way Im letting the app mess with the work mobile and not risk degrading the performance of my personal phone. No need to have on all my devices - I have a personal mobile, personal 4G tablet and work phone n my bag whenever i head out these days.

 

[p--and--t]

We probably need a half dozen 16-19yo popular airhead Tiktok or Snapchat or Instagram users to promote an isolation challenge for their followers to show the app on their phones to get a big take-up.

 

[moa999]

Interesting is that whilst all the PR for this app says it doesnt need your location, when you download the android app, after install in order to enable bluetooth it requires you to also turn on location,

An unfortunate function of the Android BT APIs. They require location services to activate BT.
The Apple app does not require Location permissions.
And a teardown of the Android app confirms it doesn't record, store or transmit or do anything with location data

I haven't noticed any change to my battery life on Android 9.
Already have BT on for my smart band and various headsets

 

[Lynda2475]

Not all Android BT apps require location services to be on - my tablet is Android and when I turn on BT to link my BT Headphones, it doesnt require location services to be turned on - so something poor in the programmingof the Covid-Sage app that it does require this.

 

[Pushka]

My main concern re ther app is its impact on battery life. Bluetooth and Location Services really drain battery life, I only turn BT or Location on when Im wanting to use my BT headphones (usually only on plane or commuting) or taking an Uber.

So I opted today to install on work mobile rather than my personal mobile, as if battery dies work will need to replace my phone but I cant afford a new personal mobile right now.

Interesting is that whilst all the PR for this app says it doesnt need your location, when you download the android app, after install in order to enable bluetooth it requires you to also turn on location, So either they set they wrong permissions in the Play Store, or the app is infact also tracking your location, otherwise no need to have location/gps on.

I've always had Bluetooth on as that links to the car when driving. Some days I don't even need to recharge at all.

Post automatically merged: May 4, 2020

Same with my Apple. Sigh, people should just try it and see rather than demanding proof.

I did post a screenshot of zero battery usage here, days ago.