Google and Apple's Proposed Collaboration on Contact Tracing

Whassup!

Remember TraceTogether, the app for contact tracing that's supposed to help Singapore in these trying times?

Collaboration!

Well, apparently Google and Apple are belatedly getting into the act. They just announced that they will be partnering to produce such an app that will work on both their platforms. I assume that means sharing resources and producing some cool shit, such as Bluetooth-based technology for aid in contact tracing.

Singapore's equivalent

And I hate to sound like a nationalistic jackass here, but we got there first. That's right - I didn't have a hand in the creation of TraceTogether, but it is my country and my industry that produced it and I'm feeling unreasonably proud at this moment.

TraceTogether

Other countries have asked if Singapore would license the code to them, and our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, had this to say.

"We believe that making our code available to the world will enhance trust and collaboration in dealing with a global threat that does not respect boundaries, political systems or economies."

I don't like the guy (can't even remember why right now) but that is one awesome response. We're making this beauty open-source, thus making Singapore's work even more relevant to the world at large.

A possible problem with Google and Apple's proposed collaboration

Privacy has been kind of a hot-button issue ever since Google started using location tracking. Sure, we could always turn it off, but the fact remains is that Google collects a lot of data about its users. And users have absolutely no reason to believe that this won't be abused in the future. I mean, look at the state of the world as it was even before the Coronavirus outbreak started.

How do we balance a user's right to privacy with the immeasurable potential to save lives? There's no clear, correct answer. Even Singapore doesn't have the answer, though I think TraceTogether is a sensible compromise many of us can accept. However, I'm not going to offer the typical American response and declare that Singapore's solution works for every country simply because it works for Singapore. This is something every country needs to decide for themselves.

Eye in the sky.

Even in Singapore, there are those who refuse to install the app because they don't trust the Government not to abuse the privilege. They're concerned about their privacy and possible intrusions into it despite the fact that the COVID-19 situation in Singapore is getting worse, and everyone's lives, not just their privacy, is being threatened.

To these people, I say: It's not about you. It's not about what kinky porn you've been viewing on your phones or what embarrassing private business you've been up to. This is about all of us. There's a bigger picture out there, and you're not seeing it. It's all well and good to be prepared to die for your privacy. Are you prepared to let others die, as well?

Think about it. Stop thinking about yourselves for maybe one goddamn second.

Remember, stay safe out there!

Break out of the outbreak!
T___T