Coronavirus contact-tracing app could make 'privacy and rights another casualty of the virus', campaigners warn
Health secretary claims concerns are 'completely wrong'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The coronavirus contact-tracing app could make the UK's privacy "another casualty" of the outbreak, privacy and human rights campaigners have warned.
The government and NHS has insisted that the plans for the app protect the privacy and security of the people using it, with safeguards including the fact that the app only collects anonymised information about those who use it.
But some campaign groups including Amnesty International have argued that the app is still unsafe and could open the door to more ongoing and pervasive kinds of surveillance.
They argue that design decisions include the fact that the app uses a centralised database of those affected mean that it could endanger the people who use it.
NHSX, the app's developer, has insisted the NHS and the app asks only for the first half of a user's postcode, all data in the app is anonymous and does not leave a user's phone until they volunteer to share it with the NHS.
However, Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said the Government should be looking at decentralised app models - where contact-tracing data stays on a user's device.
"We're extremely concerned that the Government may be planning to route private data through a central database, opening the door to pervasive state surveillance and privacy infringement, with potentially discriminatory effects," she said.
"Ministers should instead be examining decentralised, privacy-preserving models such as those many European governments are pursuing.
"In these extraordinary times, contact-tracing apps and other technology could potentially be useful tools in responding to Covid-19, but our privacy and rights must not become another casualty of the virus.
"Contact-tracing apps must always be voluntary and without incentives or penalties."
The app trial being run on the Isle of Wight is voluntary, although NHS chiefs and the Government have urged residents to download the app in order to improve its impact.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said that the concerns were "completely wrong".
Asked why, he said: "Firstly because the data is stored on your phone until you need to get in contact with the NHS in order to get a test and secondly because the purposes of this are purely and simply to control the spread of the virus, which is really important.
"Thirdly because we've all had to give up significant infringements on our liberty, for instance with the social distancing measures and the lockdown, and we want to release those, and this approach will help us to release them ... I can reassure you that it's completely untrue."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments