COVID-19 tracking system by Google and Apple coming to Android devices via Google Play

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Global infection rates of the COVID-19 virus continue to rise and this has caused companies to look for ways to help track them. Google has even partnered up with Apple to create a COVID-19 contact tracing system, which will be updated to Android devices running at least Android 6.0.

What this system does is that it allows the devices of users who are near to join a 'network'. Phones will then keep data for up to 14 days, data that the health authorities will have access to. Should users be diagnosed COVID-19 positive, they can then report it through an app to alert people in the network and health departments. Essentially, it's a kind of digital surveillance system.

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According to The Verge, Google has announced that the update will be done through Google Play Services, so Android users will have to update that to get the system. This is the fastest way to push out certain updates, as it will not be affected by delays often attributed to manufacturers. However, the fact that it goes through Google Play Services does mean that Huawei's devices will not be able to get the updates. For that, Google will publish a framework that other companies can use to replicate the system.

If you're curious about how this system works, you can check out the documents published by Apple and Google. But with that said, what do you think about the system, do you find it a privacy concern? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.