EU urges voluntary use of virus-tracing apps

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 06 Jan 2023

BRUSSELS - The European Commission urged EU governments on Wednesday to use COVID-19 contact tracing apps on a voluntary basis as part of efforts to lift border restrictions and revive the European Union’s tourism and travel industries.

Countries are rushing to develop mobile tracing apps, hoping that the smartphone technology could help bring about a reopening of borders - crucial to trade - without unleashing a second wave of the pandemic.

That in turn has kindled concerns about privacy breaches and government surveillance long after the virus crisis has eased. The apps use Bluetooth short-range wireless to identify those who have come into contact with people infected with the virus.

The Commission, which is the executive of the 27-nation EU, sought to allay such fears.

“Tracing apps must be voluntary, transparent, temporary, cybersecure, using pseudonymised data, should rely on Bluetooth technology and be interoperable across borders as well as across operating systems,” it said in a statement.

The Commission also set out guidelines to help developers design apps that can work with each other and throughout the EU.