Facebook and Google in Talks With Washington to Track Infections: Reports

The project of tracking infections would involve collecting information from Americans' smartphones.

By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 19 March 2020 00:36 IST

Facebook and Google in Talks With Washington to Track Infections: Reports

Coronavirus has spread across the world and more than 200,000 people have been infected by the virus

Highlights

Individuals' personal data might be used to combat coronavirus outbreak
Project would involve collecting location information from smartphones
The use of personal data in the US is highly sensitive

Facebook and Google are in talks with Washington over potentially using individuals' personal data to track and combat the coronavirus outbreak, US media reported. The project would involve collecting location information from Americans' smartphones and using it anonymously to map the spread of the disease and predict urgent medical needs, for example.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Google spokesman Johnny Luu confirmed they were "exploring ways that aggregated anonymized location information could help in the fight against COVID-19."

The two tech giants did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

The use of personal data in the US is highly sensitive after several scandals -- such as in 2011 when the National Security Agency was found to be collecting phone records without permission.

But pressure has mounted for Silicon Valley to use their expertize to fight the deadly virus, after roughly 50 scientists signed an open letter last week calling on them to act.

"It is clear that large-scale efforts by technology platforms could tip the scales on the right side to contain the pandemic and save thousands if not millions of lives," the doctors, epidemiologists and researchers wrote.

Among other suggestions, they recommended social networks broadcast educational videos, Uber distribute disinfectant products to its drivers, and Amazon limit the number of masks and hydro-alcoholic gels that can be sold per person.

As for Apple and Google, "they should integrate into the operating system of the phones a tracking tool, which users could choose to activate, anonymously, to find out if they have been in the presence of identified cases."

People could quarantine themselves if necessary and monitor the appearance of any symptoms.

"In the longer term, such a system would better contain other future epidemics," they added. "Tracking contacts between people has worked well in China and South Korea, and such a tool would make this method usable everywhere, on a large scale."

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.