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ARTICLE · 18 JANUARY 2021

Test And Trace Apps: Are There Any Privacy Impacts?

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Fiona Campbell explores the test and trace apps and how they work alongside other tracing QR code systems.

United KingdomPrivacy
Fiona Campbell
Fiona Campbell

In our last article on test and trace back in May, Ed Pullicino explained the technical aspects and data protection implications of the two different types of test and trace app the government was considering using to halt the spread of COVID-19. The government has since chosen to go with the de-centralised model created by Apple and Google, alongside a traditional manual test and trace system, after a pilot of the centralised model created by NHSX produced patchy results.1

Fiona Campbell explores the test and trace apps and how they work alongside other tracing QR code systems. What are the implications to privacy when using these kind of apps? Can businesses still use their own test and trace model for customers instead of the NHS app? Can employers use their own test and trace model instead of the NHS app?

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