France shames Apple for not sacrificing user privacy for COVID-19 app

24

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 67
    aderutteraderutter Posts: 604member
    It’s France and the UK NHS who should be shamed.
    For wasting taxpayers money on ineffectual apps that will prove to be useless without using the Apple-Google API.

    Without using the Apple-Google API people will have to have their phone open and unlocked and running the app while they walk around in shops, at work etc. Completely impractical and won’t happen. Given that apparently they need over 50% of the population to do this to make the app work only highlights their seeming ignorance. 

    I am in the UK and no way will I or my family use the NHS app until it uses the Apple-Google API with decentralised data and strict privacy.

    Opportunity lost by UK and France.
    I predict the media having a field day when the apps from other countries work and the apps from France and UK don’t.
    EsquireCatsPetrolDaveGG1stompywatto_cobra
  • Reply 22 of 67
    asdasdasdasd Posts: 5,686member
    I think Apple does care too much about privacy, it is making very little headway in convincing the average Joe that they are better at this than google. ( Its obvious here but we are more industry aware). Nevertheless Apple is correct here. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 23 of 67
    It's just an opportunity to use this disease to get what they always wanted. Apple is right! Terrible government
    beeble42PetrolDavehodarwatto_cobra
  • Reply 24 of 67
    This is just stupid.  The carriers are already tracking every cellphone signals and GPS locations, they have to know where you are to complete the calls!  All you have to do is to get the phone's IMEI number and do a big data query, and just use push notification warning anonymously to all "contacts". 

    Focus only on privacy and nobody knows the real risks.  Without knowing the risks, everyone will be afraid to go out and everyone suffers.
    edited May 2020 watto_cobra
  • Reply 25 of 67
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    red oak said:
    Opening Bluetooth access to apps running in the background would be a security disaster.    It is comical that a "Digital Technology Minister" would be demanding it.  

    It turns out this guy has no programming or software experience.   And, very limited business experience.    He's never developed an app in his life.   A true socialist bureaucrat appointed to help lead digital technology in France.   LOL 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cédric_O
    Turns out Socialists are authoritarians... who knew?
    hodarbeowulfschmidtGG1
  • Reply 26 of 67
    PetrolDavePetrolDave Posts: 57member
    aderutter said:
    It’s France and the UK NHS who should be shamed.
    For wasting taxpayers money on ineffectual apps that will prove to be useless without using the Apple-Google API.

    I am in the UK and no way will I or my family use the NHS app until it uses the Apple-Google API with decentralised data and strict privacy.

    Opportunity lost by UK and France.
    I predict the media having a field day when the apps from other countries work and the apps from France and UK don’t.
    I am also in the U.K. and agree 100%.
    hodarwatto_cobra
  • Reply 27 of 67
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    Okay but if it were anything else and Apple allowed less security you'd be fining Apple Billions of dollars. So which is it? You can't have it both ways. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 28 of 67
    mknelsonmknelson Posts: 1,118member
    The Alberta Government released a tracing app this week - it's using a similar protocol to the Apple/Google solution in that it uses BlueTooth to get anonymous information from Apple/Android devices running the same App within ~6ft.

    The Android App works in the background. The iOS version only works if the phone is unlocked and the AB Tracetogether app is running in the foreground.

    That means it's pretty much useless as it shuts off any time your phone sleeps or you use a different app.

    They will need to switch to the Apple API to make it work.


    avon b7stompywatto_cobra
  • Reply 29 of 67
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,192member
    France should contact AT&T for help. I had one of AT&T's apps installed supposedly to block spam calls, but without paying AT&T $4/month, the app was useless. Nevertheless, it was the biggest user of my iPhone battery by far. What was it doing in the background???
    edited May 2020 watto_cobra
  • Reply 30 of 67
    gilly33gilly33 Posts: 433member
    red oak said:
    Opening Bluetooth access to apps running in the background would be a security disaster.    It is comical that a "Digital Technology Minister" would be demanding it.  

    It turns out this guy has no programming or software experience.   And, very limited business experience.    He's never developed an app in his life.   A true socialist bureaucrat appointed to help lead digital technology in France.   LOL 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cédric_O
    Of course he doesn’t. He's a politician that got an appointment to a ministry. He doesn’t have to know anything about technology. 




    watto_cobra
  • Reply 31 of 67
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    mknelson said:
    The Alberta Government released a tracing app this week - it's using a similar protocol to the Apple/Google solution in that it uses BlueTooth to get anonymous information from Apple/Android devices running the same App within ~6ft.

    The Android App works in the background. The iOS version only works if the phone is unlocked and the AB Tracetogether app is running in the foreground.



    "The operating systems (Android and iOS) won’t allow the tracing application to broadcast its ID via Bluetooth to surrounding devices when it’s running in the background and not in active use. Apple’s iOS forbids it, and newer Google Android versions  (since 2017)  limit it to a few minutes after the app falls into the background."

    As far as I know it won't work effectively with Android either as they also disallow it after a few minutes.
    edited May 2020 muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 32 of 67
    larryjwlarryjw Posts: 1,031member
    This is just stupid.  The carriers are already tracking every cellphone signals and GPS locations, they have to know where you are to complete the calls!  All you have to do is to get the phone's IMEI number and do a big data query, and just use push notification warning anonymously to all "contacts". 

    Focus only on privacy and nobody knows the real risks.  Without knowing the risks, everyone will be afraid to go out and everyone suffers.
    GPS does not have location accuracy, If you used GPS, you’d  be contacting everyone within 300ft. 

    BLE however has short range, and can not only detect devices nearby, but allows some measure of whether there was a barrier between the phones. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 33 of 67
    viclauyycviclauyyc Posts: 849member
    This guy is an idiot. If France don’t use apple and google’s app, how can they sue the big 2 for billions?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 34 of 67
    JinTech said:
    And what has France contributed, financially or in the means of medical supplies? I am sincerely curious, it's not a snide question.
    Yesterday France donated €500 Million to the Coronavirus Global Response. Altogether over €7.4 billion, equivalent to $8 billion, has been donated internationally to the fund, with the notable exception of the U.S.A & Russia! Go figure......
    JinTechstompy
  • Reply 35 of 67
    WgkruegerWgkrueger Posts: 352member
    I, for one, am going to stop eating their Fries. 
    artdentGG1stompy
  • Reply 36 of 67
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    He is quite right to shame Apple.   They should be ashamed.

    Their blocking the use of bluetooth for necessary apps will cost tens of thousands of lives. 

    Trump already has the blood of almost 70,000 on his hands.  Does Tim want the blood of that much and more on his hands?    When your mother, father, wife or child is dying this ideological argument for "privacy" tends to lose its appeal.
  • Reply 37 of 67
    bellsbells Posts: 140member
    He is quite right to shame Apple.   They should be ashamed.

    Their blocking the use of bluetooth for necessary apps will cost tens of thousands of lives. 

    Trump already has the blood of almost 70,000 on his hands.  Does Tim want the blood of that much and more on his hands?    When your mother, father, wife or child is dying this ideological argument for "privacy" tends to lose its appeal.
    Was it too difficult to read the whole article? Did you miss the part where Apple and Google created an API that France could have elected to use that would accomplish the same goal more effectively without compromising security?

    So it isn't an either or situation. No doubt France has been far more effective in addressing Covid-19 then the US, but in this instance France is blinded by its hate of American companies. I also find it ironic that France hit Apple with a big penalty for updating IOS in a way that effected performance for older iPhone, but here it wants Apple to adopt a solution that will kill battery life. The hypocrisy is amplified by the fact that Apple has given France a solution. 

    Apple also has to worry about what it is willing to do for one Country it will have to be willing to do for all. This access can be abused and Apple will have a hard time putting the cat back in the bag once released. 


    tmayGG1stompywatto_cobra
  • Reply 38 of 67
    asdasdasdasd Posts: 5,686member
    red oak said:
    Opening Bluetooth access to apps running in the background would be a security disaster.    It is comical that a "Digital Technology Minister" would be demanding it.  

    It turns out this guy has no programming or software experience.   And, very limited business experience.    He's never developed an app in his life.   A true socialist bureaucrat appointed to help lead digital technology in France.   LOL 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cédric_O
    Turns out Socialists are authoritarians... who knew?
    What is it with Americans and their hatred of other country’s economic systems. Most of the “socialist” countries in Europe have far fewer people in jail than the US. “Authoritarian” Sweden didn’t even have a lockdown.
    avon b7GeorgeBMacmac_dog
  • Reply 39 of 67
    WgkruegerWgkrueger Posts: 352member
    bells said:
    He is quite right to shame Apple.   They should be ashamed.

    Their blocking the use of bluetooth for necessary apps will cost tens of thousands of lives. 

    Trump already has the blood of almost 70,000 on his hands.  Does Tim want the blood of that much and more on his hands?    When your mother, father, wife or child is dying this ideological argument for "privacy" tends to lose its appeal.
    Was it too difficult to read the whole article? Did you miss the part where Apple and Google created an API that France could have elected to use that would accomplish the same goal more effectively without compromising security?

    So it isn't an either or situation. No doubt France has been far more effective in addressing Covid-19 then the US, but in this instance France is blinded by its hate of American companies. I also find it ironic that France hit Apple with a big penalty for updating IOS in a way that effected performance for older iPhone, but here it wants Apple to adopt a solution that will kill battery life. The hypocrisy is amplified by the fact that Apple has given France a solution. 

    Apple also has to worry about what it is willing to do for one Country it will have to be willing to do for all. This access can be abused and Apple will have a hard time putting the cat back in the bag once released. 


    This person is a troll who continues to reduce the quality of our discussions. 
    gatorguymac_dogstompywatto_cobra
  • Reply 40 of 67
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    asdasd said:
    red oak said:
    Opening Bluetooth access to apps running in the background would be a security disaster.    It is comical that a "Digital Technology Minister" would be demanding it.  

    It turns out this guy has no programming or software experience.   And, very limited business experience.    He's never developed an app in his life.   A true socialist bureaucrat appointed to help lead digital technology in France.   LOL 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cédric_O
    Turns out Socialists are authoritarians... who knew?
    What is it with Americans and their hatred of other country’s economic systems. Most of the “socialist” countries in Europe have far fewer people in jail than the US. “Authoritarian” Sweden didn’t even have a lockdown.
    Hatred? If it works for you, what does it matter? If your government turns into the PRC overnight, that’s your problem not mine.
    watto_cobra
Sign In or Register to comment.