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Transport secretary Grant Shapps mentioned the plan in an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday (Sunday 3rd May).
Dr Dimitra Petrakaki, Reader in Information Systems at the University of Sussex Business School and expert in health apps in the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre, said:
“The contact tracing app could constitute the way out of the lockdown because of its potential to collect real time big health data about individuals’ current health condition. This is information that is difficult, if not impossible, to collect otherwise. The problem however with this approach is that it relies on a number of assumptions that are difficult to ignore:
“First, contact tracing apps rely on individual self-reporting (or reporting on behalf of others for instance their kids). This means that there is no guarantee either that all individuals will systematically self-report or that the data reported will be true. Even with the best intentions, there will always be a number of asymptomatic cases offering wrong data.
“There might be initially a wide adoption of this app but for it to be used on a regular basis there needs to be lots of nudges and a clear link between how the data individuals input lead to governmental actions and decisions (e.g. loosening of social distancing). I think it is possible that a percentage of people will use the app in order to help the NHS and the government take us out of the lockdown but it is important that the population knows what to do; how frequently and what for.
“Second, the contact tracing app raises a range of important questions regarding the unprecedented level of surveillance by means of digital data under which individuals are subjected. It is noteworthy that this is a type of consensual surveillance in the sense that it emanates from people’s willingness to assume responsibility to care for the health of others and the community (by offering their data on a daily basis).
“This is not the first time the state exercises surveillance over the population. It is however unique because this particular type of digital surveillance is not discreet but is noticeable and loud. It is a form of a consensual discipline i.e. you need to be under surveillance so that we all move out of the lockdown successfully whilst reducing further deaths from Covid-19.
“Third, there is already a range of apps for tracing, including the C-19 Covid Symptom Tracker (led by King’s College). The more the apps on contact tracing, the worse the confusion of people as to which they should be using and what for. A central clear approach is needed and ample of guidance to individuals.
“Fourth, we need to look into who can partake in this initiative. The app presupposes ownership of a smartphone and awareness of how to download and use it. Data from Statista suggest that in the end of 2019 only 55% of those over 55 owned a smartphone. This age group has also been one of the most vulnerable in the covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health suggests that they would need half of the population to use the app for it to offer meaningful data but the question as to who should ideally be self-reporting remains crucial.”
Prof Mark Ryan, Professor in Computer Security, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, said:
“Everyone agrees that proximity tracing is a vital part of combating Covid and ending the lockdown. However, we have to be sure that proximity tracing technology does not lead to unfettered surveillance of people’s movements and activities. To this end, we call upon the government to publish open source code of the apps and server processes that will be used. Remember that, unlike the cases of surveillance to combat terrorism or other crime, there is no requirement of secrecy in what strategies and technologies are being used against Covid.”
Dr Ibrahim Habli, Associate Professor of Safety-Critical Systems, Department of Computer Science, University of York, said:
“Has the app been assessed against the NHS safety standards for Health IT? (https://digital.nhs.uk/services/solution-assurance/the-clinical-safety-team/clinical-risk-management-standards)
“Compliance with these is mandatory under the Health and Social care Act 2012.
“If so, these standards require the development of an explicit safety case, i.e. “Report that presents the arguments and supporting evidence that provides a compelling, comprehensible and valid case that a system is safe for a given application in a given environment at a defined point in a Health IT System’s lifecycle”. Will the developers make their safety case publicly available? If not, why not?”
Prof Dame Til Wykes, Vice Dean Psychology and Systems Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, said:
“The key issues on whether a contact tracing App would be acceptable are answers to questions like – who has the data, where will it be sent and what security there is. Most data is now encrypted on the phone but will the government or anyone who holds the data be able to de-identify it? Phone data can be added to other data, such as IP addresses, so that the anonymity of the user is not protected. GPS signals also concentrate on the person’s home that clearly means identification of the household, if not the individual. The Privacy notice is often written in legalise so you need a lawyer to explain it all. Simple language with a clear message is essential. Most countries are not centralising data but I believe the UK is and that is also a cause for concern. Finally no matter how supportive we think it is it also has to show how useful it is so transparent information on the Isle of Wight experiment is vital. If we don’t have this clarity then many people will be suspicious and even if they feel this is a protection for them and the community, will not feel able to commit to contact tracing.”
All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:
www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19
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