Will you download the app?

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

Interesting developments:

The battle against coronavirus is going hi-tech, with Australians to be asked to download a phone app that will monitor their movements — but only with their express permission.

The Federal Government believes restrictions on the community could be eased in the months ahead if there's more testing, greater surveillance of those infected by the coronavirus and much faster tracing of those they've had contact with.

It is developing a mobile phone app with the private sector to help monitor Australians' daily interactions.

The ABC understands the app will be ready in a fortnight but the Government believes it would need at least 40 per cent of Australians to voluntarily sign up for it to be effective.

The app would be opt-in only and not mandatory.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-14/coronavirus-app-government-wants-australians-to-download/1214...

This app will make contact tracing easier as it will enable authorities to contact people via their phones if they have come in contact with someone who subsequently tests positive.

Personally, count me in.  I can always delete the app once this pandemic has settled.  If I was to become really concerned I’d simply get a new phone, new number, new sim! OR, simply turn off Bluetooth 

[icyfroth]

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@dontmissthese wrote:

I thought why not. If I remember to take my phone out and about then it would be nice to know

if an 'infected' was standing too close to me for too long.

After 3 goes at GET and 3 requests for my Apple ID password I gave up.

( password was correct )

Easier to just carry a 1 metre broomstick and swing it around a lot.

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[icyfroth]

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

I still won't be downloading the App...they can get stuffed!

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icy, what are your concerns?

Don’t you trust the current government?

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Hahaaaa...does it not make you think of population control?

[bright.ton42 · Accepted solution]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

I still won't be downloading the App...they can get stuffed!

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icy, what are your concerns?

Don’t you trust the current government?

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Hahaaaa...does it not make you think of population control?

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No.      More like Covid control.  I'm all for it. 

[icyfroth]

I won't be downloading the app.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Hahaaaa...does it not make you think of population control?

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actually, I think of it in terms of regaining some freedoms:

- the freedom to just take a walk in a park and sitting in the sun

- the freedom to go shopping for the sake of it and not just for food

- the freedom to go and visit friends at their homes

- the freedom to go and eat out at a restaurant 

- the freedom to go away for holidays

ALSO, the app doesn’t control me or anyone who downloads the app.  It doesn’t stop me from doing what I am allowed to do now, and will result in less controls over me if enough people download the app to allow for faster tracing of potential spread of COVID-19.

I could be wrong . . . so please enlighten me on how this app is an exercise in population control.

I am truly interested to find out!.

[bright.ton42]

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@icyfroth wrote:
I won't be downloading the app.

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But Icy even if it did track you but assuming you're right ........

if you lead a pretty ordinary and legal life why would it matter?

If they started to track me they would be asleep within 2 minute I'm so legal, and boring.  .       

[icyfroth]

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:
I won't be downloading the app.

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But Icy even if it did track you but assuming you're right ........

if you lead a pretty ordinary and legal life why would it matter?

If they started to track me they would be asleep within 2 minute I'm so legal, and boring.  .       

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I recently saw 2 ordinary blokes riding their bicycles along the road being pulked over by the police and booked.

Loss of liberty is very hard to win, and we are surrendering it like sheep. 

[not_for_sale2025]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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I recently saw 2 ordinary blokes riding their bicycles along the road being pulked over by the police and booked.

Loss of liberty is very hard to win, and we are surrendering it like sheep. 

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We are not surrendering it like sheep, we are cooperating like responsible adults. Baaa

[rogespeed]

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@springyzone wrote:

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@rogespeed wrote:

We are virtually under house arrest as it is - neighbourhood watch reporting during the day , and  the vigilantes control the night , rent a crowd controls the retail sector - no one wants to be seen to be implicated as a spreader - unless many newly confirmed have been cagey as to who they have been in " close contact" with - however would habitual social-distancing violators take their phone with them ? or is this just a get used to citizen tracking exercise ? Afterall personal tracking confirms innocence ! 

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The answer is probably not, unless they were stupid.

If you had a tracking device on your phone and had been ordered to self-isolate, you would leave the phone at home.

My understanding though is that in Singapore & places where they have installed a specialised tracker, they can ring you at any random time and you're in trouble if you don't answer the phone! So going out without your phone would be a risk.

I don't know about this current aussie tracker thing, if it is the same thing.

Just something I read, bit off topic but thought it was interesting, is that most people who have credit cards, those credit cards have the capability to be tracked to within metres (even if the card is not used), but credit card companies are not legally allowed to do that.

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Is downloaded via Apple of Google stores not via govt website - this indicates something , like how does Apple or Google benefit and if so how , what services do they provide excluding use of their stores site ? If a condition of use , using there operating system , what is in it for them and should we be concerned ? 

The other issue is that one does not get indicated in being interrogated by another phone. Normally bluetooth connections is a owner initiated task with full owner knowledge. should there be an optional indicator ? 

Also need bluetooth to be active - how does this expose one to being hacked ? Is there a notification regarding security recommendations ?

The use of this app seems to be on the assumption that close proximity to another person is the major transmission conduit rather than the observed indirect person to surface to person transmission - however does spread quickly in highly social and familiar situations like weddings, family restaurant gatherings , metro-sexual cafe encounters etc ie lots of hugs, excited greetings , banter - but is 15 minutes close contact short enough time ? I doubt that in those milling around social environments and knowing only takes seconds to get infected  

So i suppose has merit - more so after restrictions lifted and winter approaches 

Will appeal to many as a means to prove infection free in the event of being rounded up during a localised outbreak - very desirable in small isolated residential or company workplaces prone to factionalised collective hysteria and punitive reactions 

[joz*garage]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:
I won't be downloading the app.

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But Icy even if it did track you but assuming you're right ........

if you lead a pretty ordinary and legal life why would it matter?

If they started to track me they would be asleep within 2 minute I'm so legal, and boring.  .       

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I recently saw 2 ordinary blokes riding their bicycles along the road being pulked over by the police and booked.

Loss of liberty is very hard to win, and we are surrendering it like sheep. 

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Rather a generalised report, weren't they wearing helmets? riding side by side breaking road rules and not practising safe distancing?

And what's that got to do with this phone app?