Discussion

• @robtregaskes Rob Tregaskes on x

  So, in deciding to reject the approach of the two tech giants, @NHSX seems to think it knows better than @Apple and @google about two key areas: 1. Product adoption 2. Mobile device power management Sadly this just shows how clueless they are. A thread. https://www.bbc.com/...

• @brendannyhan Brendan Nyhan on x

  We need to rethink our notions of power and governance in a world where Apple can tell Germany what to do - notable from @CaseyNewton https://www.getrevue.co/... https://twitter.com/...

• @clry2 Chris Yiu on x

  We all love the NHS, but it doesn't have a great track record on IT. We might not all love Apple and Google quite as much, but there's no doubt they can execute tech at scale and securely. Is it really necessary to force this choice on the public? https://www.bbc.co.uk/...

• @jamestitcomb James Titcomb on x

  The NHS has been able to do what France, Australia, Singapore haven't and get its contact tracing app to run in the background on iOS(?) https://www.bbc.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  I love that so many countries were like big tech should care about people's privacy but then said “No! Not like that” when it comes to deciding whether an app that tracks down everyone you spent time with is a privacy violation. https://www.bbc.com/...

• @jamesrbuk James Ball on x

  As if launching a contact tracing app isn't difficult enough, NHSX is launching its in pretty open dispute with Apple and Google over privacy and protocols. This could be disastrous in a number of ways. https://twitter.com/...

• @frances_coppola @frances_coppola on x

  This is utterly lunatic. https://twitter.com/...

• @davidhencke David Hencke on x

  It looks like the NHS is going to have a centralised Covid 19 contact alert app so authorities know who has been alerted and can trace an individual's social connections. Sounds Orwellian to me. see https://www.bbc.co.uk/...

• @davidheniguk David Henig on x

  This seems... worrying. https://twitter.com/...

• @carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x

  Reminder: no-one cared about Cambridge Analytica. Until they did https://www.bbc.com/...

• @suewilson91 @suewilson91 on x

  Not to mention that this app contract was given to brother of Warner - a “member” of Sage & pal of Cummings. https://twitter.com/...

• @fabiochiusi Fabio Chiusi on x

  The NHS has opted for a centralised digital contact tracing model: “One of the advantages is that it's easier to audit the system and adapt it more quickly as scientific evidence accumulates” https://www.bbc.com/...

• @fabiochiusi Fabio Chiusi on x

  “The letter also mentions a thorough analysis of centralized and decentralized implementations of contact-tracing protocols. It includes multiple attack scenarios and undermines both the DP-3T protocol as well as ROBERT” https://techcrunch.com/...

• @rowlsmanthorpe Rowland Manthorpe on x

  Not sure about this. The NHS has levels of trust far exceeding even Apple and Google. The real issue, it seems to me, is not having auto-installation on every phone in the country - but perhaps they believe that will come later, once the A/G protocol is released https://twitter.c…

• @jimwaterson Jim Waterson on x

  OBVIOUSLY this is a side point and a price worth paying. But it sounds as though the NHS' contact tracing app to get us out of this pandemic is going to work your phone battery hard. https://twitter.com/...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  I'm surprised the NHS is rejecting Apple and Google's tracking tech for COVID-19. Yet another clumsy moment for how the UK is handling our response to coronavirus. I'm 99% certain the app will be half baked and not work properly and cost lives in the process. https://twitter.com/…

• @tupp_ed Simon McGarr on x

  If your software project is dependant on near universal acceptance for its success, trying to force *anything* through a process you prefer is assured to be self defeating. Success is not launching an app. Success is having an app everyone *feels* they can trust & wants to use. h…

• @ciaraobrien Ciara O'Brien on x

  “NHSX believes a centralised system will give it more insight into Covid-19's spread, and therefore how to evolve the app accordingly.” Unless, you know, lots of people reject the app because they're worried about their battery life going to absolute shite https://www.bbc.com/...

• @mikebutcher Mike Butcher on x

  Interesting criticism. I think he has a point. The OSs kill apps in the background unless they are given special access to an API. Even Germany has changed its mind and will now be going with Google/Apple on this. https://twitter.com/...

• @martinsfp Martin Sfp Bryant on x

  Hmm. The UK won't use the Apple/Google API for its contact-tracing app. That's very disappointing indeed. “The NHS says it has a way to make the software work ‘sufficiently well’ on iPhones without users having to keep it active and on-screen.” 🤔 https://www.bbc.co.uk/...

• @leokelion Leo Kelion on x

  UK is set to go it alone rather than adopt the Apple-Google “decentralised” app model. https://www.bbc.co.uk/...

• @mattburgess1 Matt Burgess on x

  This is potentially (very) bad news for the adoption of the NHS app. If you want people to install it, you need trust. The NHS shunning the more private Apple-Google decentralised method in favour of a centrally controlled option is not a great look https://www.bbc.co.uk/...

• @aral Aral Balkan on x

  “Experts from GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre have aided the effort.” Dear BBC, You spelled “this is a mass surveillance app” wrong. https://www.bbc.com/...

• @oliviasolon Olivia Solon on x

  I love the NHS, but its track record on data projects isn't great

• @joetidy Joe Tidy on x

  NHS rejects Apple-Google coronavirus app plan. Another blow to the Google/ Apple model. https://www.bbc.co.uk/...