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Apple and Google to Team Up on Data Sharing to Help Contain COVID-19 – The Pros and Cons

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apple and google to team up on data sharing to help contain covid 19 the pros and cons

The big tech news to end last week was that Apple and Google have agreed to a partnership which will enable health authorities to better track COVID-19 patients, and alert people who’ve been in contact with them, which could provide significant help in containing the virus.

The process would work like this:

  • Apple and Google will provide tools that will enable combined device tracing across both iOS and Android devices, which will mean that no matter what device a person is using, a central process will be able to track it, based on proximity signals via Bluetooth
  • Health authorities will then be able to develop apps that can trace which users have been in close contact with others. The process will be opt-in, and will require users to download a new, official app
  • If a person is found to have COVID-19, they’ll be able to log that in the app, via a code from a health authority, which will then alert all other app users who’ve been in contact with them that they are at risk and need to self-isolate.

Google provided this visual overview of the proposed system:

Apple/Google COVID-19 tracking

It’s a good idea, which somewhat mirrors similar solutions in place in other regions – though there are some limitations to the process, and some concerns as to where it takes us, in terms of personal tracking.

The Good…

First off, the good news – this system would enable significantly better tracking of COVID-19 patients on an individual level, and with 1.5 billion active iOS devices in circulation, and 2.5 billion active Android devices, the potential coverage base is massive.

These are the most popular mobile device operating systems in the world, by a big margin, and the capacity to be able to trace users on both will enable widespread alerting – which could, theoretically, significantly help to contain the virus’ spread, and enable us to get back to some semblance of normal life faster. 

It’s also pretty amazing to see Apple and Google working together. Both companies have been notoriously critical of one another, with Apple CEO Tim Cook regularly taking aim at both Google and Facebook over their questionable privacy practices. To see the two come together to benefit the greater good is a significant development – but yet, there are some issues that could limit the effectiveness of the proposal. 

The Bad…

One thing that will limit the effectiveness of this process will be the fact that people need to download another app, and it’ll require widespread take-up of that app to be effective.

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Both companies are looking to respect user privacy, and the requirement to download a separate app is, essentially, a measure of consent – in doing so, you’ll be agreeing to let Google and Apple share your location data for this purpose. That makes sense, but if only a small portion of people go to the effort of doing so, it will render the system largely irrelevant. If, for example, you go to the local shops, and you’re the only one who’s downloaded the app, that won’t be much help in an alerting sense.

How, then, do the health authorities ensure optimal take-up?

In China, they’ve seen some level of success with a somewhat similar system – though the difference is that they’ve integrated the process into existing apps WeChat and AliPay. These apps are used for everything in China, from buying groceries to doing your banking – which also provides Chinese authorities with an extra level of control. To limit the spread, they’ve assigned color codes to people based on their COVID-19 risk, which restricts their capacity to move freely as a result. 

The integration with already popular apps enables Chinese authorities to better monitor and track citizens’ movements, and limit such through this process – though even then, it’s not foolproof, despite utilizing a far wider-reaching system.

Health authorities in other nations could look to similar options – they could, for example, restrict people’s movements based on them downloading and using the app, subject to random checks, but that likely won’t be as easy to implement in western regions. 

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It’s a challenge that will need to be thought through – but the thing is, Apple and Google are already tracking this data among the vast majority of their users, and could provide it without needing a separate app. It would open up a lot more privacy questions, of course, but the combined database would already have much of this info, without needing any extra steps.

Research shows that up to 90% of smartphone users have location services switched on at all times, as it comes in handy for maps, tracking your daily jog, interactive games like Pokemon Go, etc. That means that Google and Apple have this info already, and they could, theoretically, create a system that alerts all users within a certain proximity of someone found to be carrying COVID-19.

A more authoritarian system might see doctors require patients who are infected with the virus to register their condition via their device, which would subsequently alert all users who’ve been anywhere near them. A combined Google and Apple data net would see such an alert reach virtually everybody at risk, and they could do this without any extra steps – though it would significantly overstep the bounds of user privacy.

Which leads to the next issue…

The Ugly…

The concern here is that a combined Android/iOS data net covers pretty much everyone in most connected regions across the world, and would give whomever can access it the most advanced personal tracking tool in history.

That would be of significant interest to governments, who would be keen to use such to track criminal gangs, blackmarket rings – anyone that they might choose to hone in on. 

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Privacy advocates have been sounding the alarm bells about such tools being developed in times of crisis, because as The New York Times recently noted, once a privacy back door like this has been opened, it can be very difficult to close it again after the need subsides.

As per NYT:

“Ratcheting up surveillance to combat the pandemic now could permanently open the doors to more invasive forms of snooping later. It is a lesson Americans learned after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, civil liberties experts say. Nearly two decades later, law enforcement agencies have access to higher-powered surveillance systems, like fine-grained location tracking and facial recognition – technologies that may be repurposed to further political agendas like anti-immigration policies.”

In the case of granular location tracking, this could facilitate increasingly complex systems of tagging and monitoring citizens, with limited transparency as to how such are being utilized. Combining the Android and iOS systems is massive, and will have many looking for ways in, which is a risky proposition, despite its significant potential benefits.

This is where the proposal is somewhat uncomfortable. Yes, this system could be hugely beneficial if they’re able to prompt mass user take-up of the relevant health authority app, or apps. But it mightn’t provide much help if they can’t, while the creation of a process that provides connective access to both the iOS and Android networks, in any form, is a significant step towards the next level of potential mass surveillance.

That’s not to say Google or Apple will let that happen, but as the crisis goes on, there will be pressure on both to create tools that utilize their existing systems in this way, aside from this separate proposal.

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It also underlines, once again, the massive data the tech giants have on us – and theoretically, Facebook could also create a similar alert system, tracking who you’ve been in contact with and when, and correlating that with positive COVID-19 tests. 

Even if these tools don’t fall into the wrong hands, they do already exist, and they are being used by corporations for profit.

It’s a concerning situation, and one that could get significantly more so if this leads to enhanced data tracing as a result. 

Socialmediatoday.com

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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