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Due to the spread of Corona 19, Apple and Google announced cooperation to develop a technology to detect the possibility of dense contact. This emphasizes the protection of personal information, such as encryption technology and user consent, while cooperating with public health authorities to specify infection routes.
On April 24 (local time), the two companies jointly announced the protection of personal information on the tracking of rich contacts. While updating the draft specification for the Bluetooth technology and encryption used, it mentions how to protect personal information in the form of a FAQ. According to this, at the time of the announcement, it was said to be tracking rich contacts, but in the draft, the expression was changed to emphasize the notification of exposure notification, that is, user rich contact. This change of expression is a method of rejection that requires user consent to the last, and it can be said that it is intended to increase persuasive power because it is directly connected to system efficiency that will be convinced by more people.
According to Bluetooth, the basis for searching for rich contacts is how close they are to the infected device and how long they spend time. The existing Bluetooth standard also includes the measurement of the received signal strength, but the communication signal power level is added to it. The combination of these two estimates the distance between the two devices more accurately.
In addition, Bluetooth metadata is encrypted, and device-specific identification keys are also randomly generated every day. This is a structure that makes it difficult for a malicious hacker to specify an infected person or a device of a rich contact person. In addition, the contact time of rich is not measured for more than 30 minutes, and it can be said that it is a specification that protects personal information thoroughly.
The FAQ for general users tells how rich contact notification works, and how often the infected person data, which will be the basis for the rich contact notification, is updated. The system downloads a list of temporary tracking keys related to COVID-19 positive users at least once a day. This inventory data is sent to an agency Apple calls the relevant health authorities.
If it matches the device determined to have rich contact with a proton on this list, the user is notified and the procedure is advised. In other words, it is made only on the premise of the consent of the commercial person without a decision from the health authorities.
The plans of Apple and Google first provide an API that enables interoperability between iOS and Android for contact history applications provided by health authorities. Over the next few months, it aims to develop the technology platform and integrate it at the system level of both companies. Of these, it was expected that the API corresponding to the first stage will be provided in May, but it was announced that the video conference between CEO Tim Cook and the European Commission will be held, and it will be advanced to April 28.
According to reports, following this update and the release of the FAQ, Apple and Google have promised to abolish the contact history tracking service after the spread of infection has been sufficiently suppressed. How to withdraw and tracking users are only exceptions in emergencies, and it is the policy of both companies to abolish immediately afterwards. Related information can be found here .
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