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Covid

Download the App...and Save Lives

31 replies

DBML · 04/05/2020 17:11

Will be our new slogan in just a few weeks?
What do you think?

OP posts:
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Cabinfever10 · 04/05/2020 17:16

Probably but I want to they are lieing and saying that it keeps the information on your phone when they have already admitted that they are using a centralized database

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PowerslidePanda · 04/05/2020 18:16

"Download the app, avoid lockdown" would be reasonable

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Bol87 · 04/05/2020 18:22

I think now is the time to not worry about data storage and more about helping stop this world wide disaster! They can have all my data if it helps!

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CurlyEndive · 04/05/2020 18:24

I'll be downloading the App. Anything that could help is worth it!

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Lumene · 04/05/2020 18:27

I think now is the time to not worry about data storage and more about helping stop this world wide disaster!

Completely disagree. I would like to help but I want reassurances about how my data will be used and by who first.

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BlackForestCake · 04/05/2020 19:24

The government rejected offers from Apple and Google to produce an app and instead gave it to Dominic Cummings' crooked mates. I'd want to know the reason for that before I even considered putting it on my phone.

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Dadnotamum72 · 04/05/2020 19:45

I fail to understand those with issues on privacy.

If you had a dying person in front of you and dowloading the app saved them would you do it then?

To me it's as bad if not worse to not download it and try and help as it is to ignore current lockdown rules.

Going on a jolly to the seaside and giving a local the virus or not downloading the app which if you get the virus could warn someone else who in turn doesn't then go out and saves someone else, which is worse?

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StrawberryJam200 · 04/05/2020 19:47

@Dadnotamum72 absolutely!

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feetfreckles · 04/05/2020 19:50

The centralised vs distributed is a red herring introduced by companies producing rival software that didn't do everything the NHS needed

You can have a distributed system that is more insecure and less privacy respecting than a centralised system. It depends on the design and the supporting systems and regulations.

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Kmxxx14 · 04/05/2020 19:54

What are the worries people have?

I know people say “privacy/centralised database” but what does that mean? What are the implications from storing it in a centralised database? What privacy issues would I need to think about?

I can’t really work it out for myself.

The government knows where I live, work. Already people are tracked using mobile data or camera on the roads.

So if I commit a crime they can trace my phone location or car to certain locations.

What difference will this app make?

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Lumene · 04/05/2020 19:56

I fail to understand those with issues on privacy.

Have a look at countries that don’t allow their citizens privacy. Would you like to live in China?

We can find a way to track and trace without selling out on democratic freedoms.

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Lumene · 04/05/2020 19:58

There are data protection rights and laws for very good reasons. The govt needs to work within these with any app enough people will be prepared to download.

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Abbccc · 04/05/2020 20:01

I fail to understand those with issues on privacy.

If you had a dying person in front of you and dowloading the app saved them would you do it then?


Well, yes, but that's not how this app works.

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Lumene · 04/05/2020 20:05

Interesting development on this (source: the guardian)

Apple and Google have said they would ban the use of location tracking in apps that use a new contact tracing system the two are building to slow the spread of the coronavirus....Both companies said that privacy and preventing governments from using the system to compile data on citizens was a primary goal.

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stuckindoors77 · 04/05/2020 20:10

Well, yes, but that's not how this app works.

In the longer term it does though.

You come in contact with somebody with C-19, unknowingly you are now a carrier but you don't feel ill so you carry on as normal, you pop in to see your elderly neighbour and a few weeks later she's I'll.

Or
You come in contact with somebody with C-19, unknowingly you are now a carrier you have the app, it warns you so you self isolate, you don't visit your neighbour, she stays well.

So, to me, despite the flaws it's worth it.

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/05/2020 20:43

Unless everyone carries their mobile all the time it's not going to be reliable. don't always bother taking my mobile with me if I'm just popping to the shop or going for a walk. It's too big for pocket and I don't want to hold it all the time. Will there be smart watch app?

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LangClegsInSpace · 04/05/2020 22:38

Even the best app would only work as a useful addition to contact tracing by humans. It's not a substitute.

The NHS app is not the best app because it has huge unnecessary data protection issues.

I would have been prepared to give the google/apple app a go but I'm not touching this one.

Nobody will die because you don't download this app. The vast majority of contact tracing will still need to be done by human beings.

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BlueBrian · 04/05/2020 22:47

Doubt if even enough people will install it on the Isle of White for it to be viable, the scheme will then quietly be forgotten before it ever actually gets rolled out to the rest of the UK.

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B1rdbra1n · 04/05/2020 22:55

I think I'll just wait and get the microchip in my arm, no half measures!

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soloula · 04/05/2020 23:31

How does it work? I know it says Bluetooth but Bluetooth works through walls so would the person working through the wall in the office next door who tests positive trigger a track and trace even though there's no direct contact? I might be geographically closer than someone in their actual office according to Bluetooth but not actually at risk at all but then I'd be required to isolate because my phone says I was in close contact? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Also - someone could theoretically be stuck in isolation for weeks on end because of various encounters with people who've tested positive? Someone tests positive that was beside me on the tube. I self isolate. Return to work. Someone in the office has it. Self isolate again. Is that how it works?

I'm a stay at home mum living in a small town and I rarely use public transport so these are unrealistic scenarios for my part but I can see how this might be problematic for people. Unless I'm totally misunderstanding how the TTT system works.

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ElphiasDoge · 05/05/2020 01:38

I don’t quite understand how this will work if you work in healthcare. Surely mine will just be positive all the time!

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peoplepleaser1 · 05/05/2020 08:10

I'll download it. I'm prepared to do this because I believe it will help. I think helping reduce the spread of this virus takes priority for me over any concerns regarding privacy.

I appreciate many people have concerns but for me none of these outweigh the opportunity to fight the virus.

I wonder how easily it could be abused e.g. school pupils deliberately pinging teachers. Disgruntled neighbours and competitive businesses pinging each other etc. I'd actually like it to be more transparent to prevent this from happening.

I've nothing to hide and I'm happy to forgo my privacy to save lives and get this country back in its feet.

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peoplepleaser1 · 05/05/2020 08:14

Why can't people who don't usually take their phone out with them change their habits so that they do take it- in a bag if they can't fit it in their pockets.

NHS and other workers are risking their lives to treat sick patients and some people complain that it's inconvenient to carry their phones- ffs that is truly pathetic!

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peoplepleaser1 · 05/05/2020 08:19

Surely if this app potentially offers a solution to helping control the spread of this virus it's worth trying.

What is wrong with people who don't see this as an enormous priority right now.

It will be an enormous shame if we as a nation are so difficult about this that it fails to get off the ground, and consiquently we loose a valuable opportunity to save more lives and react quickly to any future waves.

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MsLumley · 05/05/2020 08:27

I'll download it. I'm prepared to do this because I believe it will help. I think helping reduce the spread of this virus takes priority for me over any concerns regarding privacy.

I appreciate many people have concerns but for me none of these outweigh the opportunity to fight the virus.

This. With bells on.

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