Part 2 - Explores two applications developed to help track COVID-19
Part 1 - Is a high-level, nation approach to COVID-19 Test, Track and Trace efforts
I update my articles as more information comes to light or for corrections, so do please come back every so often.
University of Cambridge and Carnegie Mellon University have both released a tool which aim to collect data to inform the likelihood of COVID-19 by developing machine learning algorithms, based primarily on sounds of their voice, their breathing and coughing.
They're independent efforts, both have said it will not be a definitive result for people participating, but the data will be used in aggregate, where outliers and false results tend to cancel out.
What's different?
They differ in their approach to data protection and privacy. University of Cambridge has stated:
No tracking
The app won't be tracking you and it will collect non-identifiable data when you actively interact with it.
Also they will not be taking names and addresses. Where as Carnegie Mellon's tool require you to register so as to be more useful for their research.
Carnegie Mellon have taken their tool offline for the time being, as they were worried about the ethical implications of giving a diagnosis that is still experimental and not medically proven. Their tool is based on previous voice-profiling research.
Their website says:
Record your voice to help save lives!
... Please contribute to our efforts to combat the disease. By contributing a short recording and your COVID status, you will enable us to build audio-based warning systems to help fight the epidemic.
Website currently undergoing construction and approval process. Please check back soon!
University of Cambridge's tool is currently web-based tool to collect voice samples. To be more effective they are in the process of getting approval for it to be app-based, this is a restriction by Apple and Google, to prevent unqualified apps.
This begs the question whether the two tech giants should be the arbiter for such decisions. This really should be in the realm of regulators and governments.
Austria and Germany
Austrian and German telecoms companies have offered to share their subscriber's movements with their respective governments. In an article they state :
... it should not be possible to track individual citizens or infected people, as is currently being done in Asian countries and also in Israel.
(original : Ein Tracking einzelner Bürger oder infizierter Personen, wie es derzeit in asiatischen Ländern und auch in Israel gemacht wird, soll dadurch aber nicht möglich sein.)
It'll be interesting to see what path Germany and the EU takes with respect to GDPR and data protection.
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