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

 

[DC3]

It only is released for 24 hours - people might still think about whether to download the app

Although, there are poll options for unsure/undecided.

Seems like about 2 million in Oz have downloaded already.

 

[tomlee1986]

Although, there are poll options for unsure/undecided.

Seems like about 2 million in Oz have downloaded already.

I am not surprised... they want the lock down lifted sooner rather than later

 

[RooFlyer]

I think a temporary legislation regulating this app and the data collected would provide the best solutions for both worlds... such as a sunset clause, and the compulsory deletion of data after the pandemic would help

Fair 'nuf. Legislation is going to be introduced into Federal Parliament to cover this and the data IS already auto-deleted off your phone after 21 days - much sooner than you would like . It only gets further from your phone if you consent for a second time to release it to a state health dept, if you are identified as a close contact of an infected person.

 

[Matt_01]

I have no issue using the app

 

[DC3]

Unfortunately it doesn’t detect this sort of behaviour. And they would have something to hide. Need to rely on them (unwittingly) exposing themselves :

NRL players fined $1,000 for camping trip amid coronavirus lockdown

NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been fined $1,000 each for breaching the state's coronavirus distancing lockdown during a weekend away, as the NRL describes the getaway as "unacceptable".

www.abc.net.au

Edited

 

[tomlee1986]

Unfortunately it doesn’t detect this sort of behaviour. Need to rely on them (unwittingly) exposing themselves:

NRL players fined $1,000 for camping trip amid coronavirus lockdown

NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been fined $1,000 each for breaching the state's coronavirus distancing lockdown during a weekend away, as the NRL describes the getaway as "unacceptable".

www.abc.net.au

There are plenty more of these examples - not involving famous people or sports stars lol

 

[harvyk]

I've downloaded it. However before I did I read over the whitepaper about BlueTrace, aka the protocol which COVIDSafe is branched from.

Long story short, I am rather impressed at the solution which has been developed. It is very close to the sort of solution I or my team might have come up with had we been tasked with developing it, in-fact one of the idea's goes further than I would have done, so kudo's to the development team. This is a very well done job.

It balances the privacy of the individual, with the requirement to advice if close contact with a positive case is found. The data collected by the app and sent to the central server is highly limited in purpose, so should an agency such as the AFP attempt to gain access to the data under the guise of say an anti-terrorism law, they will be very disappointed. Furthermore, unlike some of the governments other half coughd approaches to data and data safety, IMHO this application is secure by design.


For the technically minded, the internal design of BlueTrace is available from here -> https://bluetrace.io/static/bluetrace_whitepaper-938063656596c104632def383eb33b3c.pdf (Assuming that you haven't found it already). If people have questions and want me to translate from technospeak to plain English, you only need to ask. (I see the advantage of the entire population getting this app, so I'll do my bit).

(Getting data and metrics from point A to point B without person C seeing it at scale is kinda my day job, so I feel I am qualified to talk about this subject on a technical level)

 

[tomlee1986]

I've downloaded it. However before I did I read over the whitepaper about BlueTrace, aka the protocol which COVIDSafe is branched from.

Long story short, I am rather impressed at the solution which has been developed. It is very close to the sort of solution I or my team might have come up with had we been tasked with developing it, in-fact one of the idea's goes further than I would have done, so kudo's to the development team. This is a very well done job.

It balances the privacy of the individual, with the requirement to advice if close contact with a positive case is found. The data collected by the app and sent to the central server is highly limited in purpose, so should an agency such as the AFP attempt to gain access to the data under the guise of say an anti-terrorism law, they will be very disappointed. Furthermore, unlike some of the governments other half coughd approaches to data and data safety, IMHO this application is secure by design.


For the technically minded, the internal design of BlueTrace is available from here -> https://bluetrace.io/static/bluetrace_whitepaper-938063656596c104632def383eb33b3c.pdf (Assuming that you haven't found it already). If people have questions and want me to translate from technospeak to plain English, you only need to ask. (I see the advantage of the entire population getting this app, so I'll do my bit).

(Getting data and metrics from point A to point B without person C seeing it at scale is kinda my day job, so I feel I am qualified to talk about this subject on a technical level)

Thanks for your detailed analysis... my bigger question - do we need blue tooth turned on all the time when this app is used and also how quick battery drain with this app and bluetooth on

 

[Pushka]

So, basically 1 and 2 mean a YES.

I read this elsewhere, about “the app”:

‘ .... it won't work unless:
1. you have the app; and
2. you are within 1.5 m of another with the app;
3. for 15 minutes or longer;
4. with phone and Bluetooth turned on;
5. the app works as described ....’

Not an expert, but maybe there’s a bit more to it.

That is all it means although some are ascribing espionage purposes because apparently IKEA and the local Bunnings and Coles are the Centres of subterfuge.

I’ve had my phone on all day with Bluetooth as I always do. Just down to 73%. Bluetooth is how my phone talks to my car.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks for your detailed analysis... my bigger question - do we need blue tooth turned on all the time when this app is used and also how quick battery drain with this app and bluetooth on

Yes you do need bluetooth on all the time for the app to work, there will be a small battery drain, exactly how much will depend on your phone, its age, and its battery health.

 

[DC3]

.... and Barnaby J is now a convert? After all that fuss.

 

[tomlee1986]

.... and Barnaby J is now a convert? After all that fuss.

maybe pressured by Morrison or the Nationals?

 

[DC3]

maybe pressured by Morrison or the Nationals?

Keeping oneself in the news, perhaps.

 

[dajop]

So, you are no longer in SIN? Otherwise you would be using the SIN app. Anyway, I may have missed news of your return to Oz.

Yes escaped the Singapore lockdown circuit breaker, at the end of March. As we can't go to the office and need to work remotely anyway , decided it would be infinitely better to ride it out in our much larger holiday house in a small town in Australia, than in a small apartment in the centre of Singapore. If not, I'd have serious cabin fever by now , and would have to wear a facemask to go outside.

I do now have both the SIN and Australia app downloaded though.

 

[Pushka]

.... and Barnaby J is now a convert? After all that fuss.

Geez. I'd better delete it then!

 

[Archphoto]

I did read the info first, however, I must admit I had decided to download prior to its release.

Reading the information clarified a few things with regard to how it will operate; it is amusing to me that many are happy to use Farcebook, coughter, TokTic, Snipflash, Instagrand etc without caring that their location and lives are open to the world, through their umpteen logins/posts/likes/check-ins etc, yet fear an app that uses Bluetooth to operate, which can't be tracked at all.

It will be interesting to see if it does work. A 40% take-up rate is required to be effective, so will it be a multi-million dollar white elephant, or will it prove to be effective until a vaccine against Covid-19 is discovered? With 2 million registering by 6am this morning it appears promising, so perhaps we will get to that magic 10.5 million mark, for it to prove itself when restrictions are eased . . .

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thank you!!!! You are amazing AFF
Leading by example

 

[nickfromeastryde]

This is just personal opinion - I feel the data could be misused by other government departments - yes you may say use it as you got nothing to hide, but I just feel we dont need to be tracked all the time.. it is like big brother.. google and facebook does have data, but more likely we willingly provide, not like it is just being pushed upon us.. also google and facebook cant use the data against you, but the information in this app could by government agencies. I just feel there is not enough check and balances on the app written in the law before it is used.. just personal opinion... not trying to influence others whether to use this app or not

P.S. maybe i have from a chinese background, less trusting of governments in general, but i do trust australian government most, but i just feel this is just a step too far.. just personal feelings

Wow, so you trust Google and Facebook more than our Govt. A bit naive to think that they don't use the copious amount of data they have from you and that they don't use it/sell it/abuse it all for their own benefit.

 

[DC3]

I may have missed this, but with 40% take-up being sought, how many does this equate to? 10 million, based on 25 million population, less babies/infants/various others who do not use a mobile phone. Have the experts provided a number?

 

[cove]

The more who come on board the safer Australians will be is what we are thinking. It is a big relief that our case numbers are not rising sharply at the moment.
With a bit of good tracing work domestic travel may become reasonably safe by Christmas. With a lot of luck we could have 2 carriers to fly us around Australia.