Under the conditions agreed with Apple and Google, public health authorities are required to not collect location data on users.
An update to the NHS COVID-19 app has been delayed after it was blocked by Apple and Google on privacy grounds.
As coronavirus lockdown measures were eased across the UK from midnight, the NHS COVID-19 app was meant to include a new feature that would have allowed users - once they had tested positive- to upload the list of all venues they had checked in to using a QR code.
But this form of location tracking has been explicitly prohibited on privacy grounds by Apple and Google, who collaborated together to design the exposure notification system used on all iOS and Android devices.
Just what are the Gov thinking of by providing more fodder to the conspiracy theorists who do not want Boris as their 'Big Brother', if you can see what I mean. I now wonder how many people are going to delete the app from their phones on the back of this. Another own goal.
It seems like it is not just us "plebs" that do not read the 'Terms and Conditions' before ticking that 'I agree' box.
This is rubbish - the tech giants do not make the rules. The rule is the GDPR act which controls what the techgiants are allowed and not allowed to do. So they have said "Sorry NHS, you can but not on our platforms". That is not what is being reported.
"But this form of location tracking has been explicitly prohibited on privacy grounds by Apple and Google, who collaborated together to design the exposure notification system used on all iOS and Android devices."
The NHS App rides on the functionality of the backbone developed by Apple and Google because the NHS/Govt could not make their own development work properly. Therefore Apple and Google can set their own terms and conditions on the use of their propriety software, it does not even have to anything to do with privacy, just that it is their software so their rules. The NHS app uses this iOS/Android developed exposure notification system as it's backbone. The Gov have entered into a legally binding contract to utilise this iOS/Android software.
The NHS/Gov are still able to develop their own software if they are able to make it work. But for it to be able to to be installed on mobile phones they will still have to adhere to various operating systems with the terms and conditions of their respective 'Play Stores'.
GDPR is a totally separate law governing privacy rights within the EU. For example Whatsapp cannot share data with Facebook at the moment because the Whatsapp servers are situated in Ireland, part of the EU. But in June the server is being moved to the USA and at that point they will be able to share that data, thus bypassing GDPR rules. This does not stop people in the EU from still using Whattsapp though, that will still be legal. It is then up to individuals to use a different app like 'Signal' to keep their data secure.
Apple and Google operate internationally. This includes the EU. The GDPR therefore applies to them and determines their terms and conditions of use. Your detail is correct but your presumption is not. Yes Apple and Google have told the UK Government it cannot use their platforms; no it is not their rules that make this necessary. I have no time for thes4 techgiants but at least they abide by some laws!The comparison with any individual user is flawed. The NHS wanted a contractual arrangement. My experience tells me you will find the Ts and Cs made that impossible.
It really makes no difference which blame game is used, the UK Gov/NHS cannot upgrade their app willy nilly and the fact remains they are still not entitled to force Apple or Google to have it installed on their platforms if they say no for any reason, furthermore their app still uses the exposure notification system, used and developed on all iOS and Android devices regardless whether a third party app, to utilise it, is installed or not.
"Only public health authorities can use this system
Access to the technology will be granted only to apps from public health authorities. Their apps must meet specific criteria around privacy, security, and data use."
Ultimately if Apple or Google decide to disable that feature on UK devices then the UK app will not work and there is nothing the UK Gov can do about it. The UK Gov should be very wary of trying to bully them or breaching copyright laws. The Gov tried, at great embarrassment, for months at great public expense to develop their own stand alone app and failed.
Many people have refused to install the Covid app anyway over the insecurity of Bluetooth, it really is extremely very easy to hack, which is why the Police are not allowed to install it onto Police issued mobiles. Anyone can be following you in the street and could be accessing your phone. There are ways to protect against it, until a new vulnerability/hack is discovered and goes wild.
Even as the owner of a device, it is the hardware only, the operating system on that device, the software, remains the property of the software developer. The licence to use the operating system is included in the purchase price of the device. So you do not actually own the operating system itself.
Any installed apps can be paid for to use, or include advertising as revenue, or even be freeware, but those too also remain the property of their developers. Freeware is free to use only, the copyright still belongs to the developer.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Difficulty in breathing and blaming COVID-19
