'Contact with infected? Get tested'... Apple and Google unveil COVID-19 contact tracing technology

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Apple and Google released a smartphone operating system (OS) programming interface (API) for contact tracing of COVID-19 patients on the 20th (local time).

According to TechCrunch, the interface jointly developed by the two companies uses Bluetooth to accumulate data on people interacting and meeting each other, and when a person tests positive for COVID-19, it sends notifications to recent contacts with the facts and recommends testing. Using an app equipped with this technology makes it easy to trace the movements of COVID-19 infected contacts.

Apple and Google called this technology "Exposure Notification" but explained that smartphone users' privacy is protected. Location information technology that can identify users' locations is not used, and government agencies cannot secretly activate this technology.

The two companies explained that the more smartphone users use apps with this technology, the better the spread of COVID-19 can be tracked.

Three states?Alabama, North Dakota, and South Carolina?announced that they would use this API for contact tracing of COVID-19 patients.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.