Apple and Google Partner on Cross-Platform COVID-19 Contact Tracing System
Apple and Google are collaborating on a decentralized contact tracing tool to help track COVID-19 exposure across iOS and Android devices. The initiative rolls out in two phases, starting with an API for public health apps before becoming a built-in, opt-in system.
Apple and Google team up to build a decentralized contact tracing tool that helps people determine if they experience exposure to COVID-19. The first phase of this project provides an API that public health agencies integrate into their own applications to track the spread of the virus effectively.
The second phase involves a broader system-level contact tracing feature that works seamlessly across both iOS and Android devices. User participation remains entirely optional, ensuring that individuals maintain control over their privacy and personal health data while assisting in pandemic mitigation efforts.
This rare collaboration between the two tech giants shows a significant industry response to the global health crisis. Beyond this tracing initiative, the tech landscape stays busy as fringe coronavirus conspiracies spread rapidly online and Amazon announces plans to hire 75,000 additional workers to meet surging consumer demand.