In late July 2020, the federal government released the “COVID ALERT” app for Android and iPhone users. The app uses Bluetooth connection to notify people when they have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The app is currently being tested in Ontario before being introduced to other provinces and territories. While there are few concerns for user privacy, the app’s exclusivity to smartphone users has been challenged. About 11% of phones in the country would not be able to run the app, which limits the use of this social tool to those who are already quite connected to daily news updates about the spread of the virus. Epidemiologists are concerned with the rate of notifications from the app: if it is too sensitive people will be inclined to delete the app and if it is not sensitive enough the app may not effectively achieve its purpose.
Public Health Officer Theresa Tam responded to these claims in a recent press interview, encouraging the younger generation who often have access to smartphones to download the app. She also notes that it may be slow to operate across the provinces and territories due to Canada’s largely fragmented healthcare system.
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This resource was originally posted to the @ thealgorithmicyou Instagram page on August 23, 2020.
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