Privacy Concerns Of The Stopcovid App Leads To Voting From French Mps!

I know it sounds a little scary for a smartphone app, but it is the security that is the prime concern.

To help you understand, how the entire episode unfolded, let’s read this post further…

On 8th April, the French government announced the project called StopCovid. This app aimed to inform users if they have been in contact with the coronavirus.

The main functionality of the app depends on the Bluetooth technology, where every phone emits a signal with an anonymous ID number, and further, it stores the signals received from other people's phone apps in the vicinity.

App is facing strong opposition!

Surprisingly, members from all parties, ranging from the far-right National Rally (RN) to the center-right Republicains (LR), the Green party (EELV), the Socialists, and even members of the ruling Republique en March (LREM) party have called for a vote.

But why this issue has occurred?

The app is facing the backlash from the party members over the security. Also, there are many concerns raised over the app deployment as it deals with privacy and data storage.

Although to address the issues, the government has set up an open-access website where the code can be developed collaboratively. On the other hand, experts suggest that bluetooth is designed to pick up signals between devices but it is hard to fully trust it. As it cannot identify exact distances between people, and even it is unsure, that for how long these contacts last.

What is the stand of Govt?

Although, the government has already assured that Bluetooth technology is not going to breach the security, and is not designed to provide geolocalisation. However, there are doubts about security, as this app depends on public data, and requires at least 60% of the population to register, to make it work.

What is the final outcome?

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday has responded to the requests, and stated vote is unnecessary, as the project doesn't warrant a law at this stage.

"Since when do we debate a subject as dangerous to public and private freedoms? What will the next stage be, eliminating the parliament?" further asked Julien Bayou, secretary of the EELV Green party on Twitter earlier this month.

This sentiment reflected in a joint statement, by the leader of the Republicans (LR) Damian Abad and deputy Philippe Gosselin who agreed that "on such a sensitive subject, each deputy must guarantee public freedoms."

On the other hand, 15 MPs, all from the ruling LREM party, jointly published an op-ed on the subject in Le Figaro on 8 April. It declared that "such a decision should not be taken hastily during a time of crisis, without public consultation or parliamentary debate."

Also, they have asked for a public consultation, which is similar to the one on climate change, as they have mentioned it that it “is intrusive and questions our fundamental rights."

However, from the global perspective, this initiative is getting studied at a European level, as there are other countries as well, which have designed similar apps, namely; Trace Together, launched on 20 March in Singapore.

As mentioned by Cédric O, he mentioned that "everything would be done", and this states that the app is likely to get ready by 11th May, however, he isn’t sure, that when it would be ready.

To help you understand what will be the next step in this regard, then you must stay glued to this space with Techugo. And must find out what more new is going to take place in the smartphone app genre.