On Monday, the six-bay regional county announced it would extend home orders by May, citing ongoing difficulties in preparing for a future surge in new cases. The prominent question when elected officials are about to manage over the next few months is how much they will rely on technical solutions to help identify possible infections. On the weekend, we saw a variety of ideas on this topic spread around the world.
First, Apple and Google announced changes to the collaboration in the system-level API for public health authorities, and then use people's smartphones to inform when someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19. These changes are primarily intended to address privacy concerns, but are most notable for terminology changes. Instead of "contact tracking", companies now call their projects "exposure notifications" systems. I insisted here that a bluetooth based solution may not be effective for real contact tracking, which requires humans to track leads. However, the “exposure notice” seems to be the best fit for these companies, and now I am glad they are thinking about it in these terms.
One country persuaded by the company's approach is the famous privacy Germany. The Germans (tongue twister alert) helped devise a pan-European privacy proximity tracking project, and it was an effort to carry out exposure notifications in a way that protects citizens from the government. However, the project would have required operating system-level Apple iOS changes by making Bluetooth available in public health apps that want to handle exposure notifications on a government-managed central server.
For privacy, Apple said & # 39; No & # 39; and now Germany signed the Apple system. Reuters Douglas Busvine and Andreas Rinke are:
Germany supported the approach supported by Apple and Google along with more and more other European countries, changing the type of smartphone technology they intend to use to track corona virus infections on Sunday. […]
Germany recently supported a centralized standard called PPPP-PT (Pan-European Privacy-Proserving Proximity Tracing). In particular, I had to change Apple's iPhone settings. According to senior government sources, Apple was forced to come up with an alternative when it refused to buzz.
(Aside from the thought that we live in the age we live in Apple Is talking Europe What form of exposure notification will be allowed is basically the entire paper behind / pitch for the existence of this newsletter. Not because you think Apple has abused its power, but because you're catching up with the idea that the world is still Apple and a handful of other tech giants. have This power.)
On the other hand, Britain said it was hell. The National Health Service of the country is developing its own contact tracking app and says it works even when it's in the background and the screen is off, and there are limits that interfere with other apps. The reason I develop my own app is that I can handle impression notifications on my own server. It was Apple's refusal to implement against Germany at the operating system level. Here is Leo Kelly's report to the BBC:
A digital NHSX spokesman for Health Services said, “Engineers are working on some key challenges for the app to meet public health needs and fully support contact event detection, including when the app is in the background without undue impact on battery life. Solved. Innovation unit. […]
For this, we chose the “centralized model”. This means that a matching process occurs on the computer server where you have to send a notification via some phone. This contrasts with Apple's and Google's "distributed" approach. A match is made on the user's handset.
The NHS said it would be easier to inform people who are thought to be infected through a centralized approach. We will see! Meanwhile, Australia says one million people have downloaded COVIDSafe, its own contact tracking app that uses a centralized approach. This app is based on Singapore's open source TraceTogether app and its effect on exposure notifications is somewhat controversial. (At least a small number of people use it)
The Western approach to exposure notifications continues to be rooted in privacy concerns, but not in all cases. Last month, Israel's internal service, Shin Bet, was given emergency powers to analyze the patient's movements to track confirmed COVID-19 cases and help track contacts. This is the first time Israel has used technology designed for terrorism for civilian purposes.
However, Israelis also have privacy sensitivity. On Sunday, Israel's top court ruled that Shin Bet must be explicitly permitted by law to continue practicing.
Despite the fact that much of the epidemic response focused on technology (although it focused on testing and tracking), it was very rare that lawmakers also had to play a role.
ratio
Today there is news that can influence the public perception of the big technology platform.
⬆️ Trend: WhatsApp Significantly reduced the number of virus delivery messages on the platform. Earlier this month, the company says it has limited the number of people who can deliver viral messages to one person, and now viral delivery has been reduced by 70%. (Neha Allah Wadi / Business standard)
Infectious diseases worldwide epidemic
⭐ Amazon Warehouse workers who leave work during the epidemic are asked to return or leave for scheduled shifts starting May 1st. The company provided unpaid leave with no inconvenience for workers to come in, but it only runs until April. Next up is Bloomberg's Matt Day.
The largest online retailers are confused to handle the surge in orders that arrive as soon as the occurrence of COVID-19 reaches its rank. Some workers say Amazon hasn't done enough to keep it safe, which has made strikes and protests almost invisible to the Amazon workforce. Amazon has strengthened cleaning facilities and forced workers to stay away from each other.
However, many employees in warehouses across the United States were at home to take care of children who were unable to attend school because of fear of getting sick or spreading. Some wanted to stay away until the plague disappeared and the business opened again.
Amazon Reportedly, she was fired by staying home to protect the children from COVID-19 by returning the warehouse staff. The company went bankrupt after about 50 employees went on strike. Amazon suggested that the report contained incorrect information. (Laren Kaori Girly / vise)
Amazon We're testing the use of video conferencing calls to verify the identity of new sellers who want to sell their products on the platform. It's part of the company's plan to avoid fraud without meeting directly in the pandemic. (Reuters)
Amazon It is strengthening its presence in the retail market in a way that lasts longer than the plague and can raise antitrust issues. An increasing number of on-demand product manufacturers serve Amazon, while competing retailers take the leftovers. (Lenny Dudley / Pro Public Rica)
Two US lawmakers leading the antitrust investigation Amazon We are investigating whether the company lied to Congress about making its own products using data on independent sellers. (Make or kelly / The budge)
French court rejected Amazon Appeals ruling that limits what can be provided during the corona virus crisis. The news gives a victory to unions who have criticized the company's safety measures. (Mathi Wu Rose Maine and Sarah White / Reuters)
Last week, the federal government scrambled to prevent a potential surge in public health emergencies. President Trump A dangerous suggestion that injecting bleach can cure people with COVID-19. (Philip Luker, Josh Dousy, Yasmine Abutalev, Lena H. Sun / Washington Post)
European Union officials eased criticism of China in a report on how the government is not providing information about the coronavirus epidemic. Authorities surrendered to Beijing's pressure. (Mat Ah Peugeot / New York Times)
Bill Gates I saw the corona virus coming. His plan to win is as follows. (Ezra Klein / sound)
The U.S. Army Reserve and the mother of a two-year-old have never been tested for viruses, but have been subject to conspiracy theories claiming to have brought COVID-19 to China. Her life has turned upside down. (Donnie Oh Sullivan / CNN)
Instagram I made my first profit with a surge in sales. Demand for food delivery is skyrocketing during the coronavirus epidemic. (Amir Fratti / Information)
Instagram We plan to add 250,000 new workers. We are also extending the sick leave payment period for buyers using COVID-19 and introducing new safety measures for workers, including in-app wellness testing. (Kim Lyon / The budge)
Trolls and bots are flooding social media with information that encourages countries to end containment. Bots help protest protests asking government officials to get people to work again despite the ongoing health risks. (Tor Benson / Business insider)
Child abuse images and online use are on the rise. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Because the technology company's mediation efforts during coronavirus epidemic are still limited (Olivia Solon / NBC)
While most people in the United States are waiting for an antibody test to be available, some rich and well-connected people are already approaching it. Most of these tests have been verified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not accurate. (Emily Merlin / Original zero)
Doctors are affecting social media as people try to find accurate information about the epidemic. However, online reputation has the risk of being strengthened only by the importance of work. (Abby All Hazer / MIT Technology Review)
As the plague continues to interfere with people's livelihoods, influential people are offering free money to their followers. Influencers generally constitute a move as a charity, but it is also an savvy growth strategy. (Taylor Lorenz / New York Times)
Food delivery by robots is soaring during the pandemic. It can speed up movement from delivery guys. (Timothy B. Lee / Are Technica)
The lockdown prevented many protesters from going outside. Be creative online. (Christopher Miller / Buzz feed)
DJs are a live streaming set for large online viewers as the corona virus epidemic keeps people trapped indoors. However, few artists actually get paid. (Shawn Reynaldo / Scrape up)
Virus tracker
Total US cases: 977,256 or more
Total deaths in the United States: Over 50,000
Examples reported in California: 43,787
California's total test results (positive and negative): 553,409
Cases reported in New York: 292,027
New York's total test results (positive and negative): 826,095
Cases reported in New Jersey: 111,188
Total test results in New Jersey (positive and negative): 227,775
Examples reported in Massachusetts: 54,938
Massachusetts' total test results (positive and negative): 244,887
All total cumulative. Case data New York Times. Test your data in a COVID tracking project.
rule
⭐ Nearly two years have passed since the general data protection regulations passed in Europe, but they are still struggling to keep their promises. Privacy law was released as a model to crack down on big tech's invasive and data-hungry practices. Adam Satariano New York Times There is a story:
However, since the law was enacted, in May 2018, Google is a huge technology company with a fine of 50 million euros, a value of about $ 55 million today, or about a tenth of Google's sales every day. No major fines or penalties for Facebook, Amazon or Twitter have been announced.
Incapacitation within the European government is straining as some leaders demand faster enforcement and wider changes. Privacy groups and small tech companies complain that companies like Facebook and Google are avoiding strict supervision. At the same time, when visiting the public experience website about G.D.P.R., the pop-up pop-up window that can be clicked is inconvenient.
President Trump Retweeted the gif of Joe Biden Sticking out the tongue, people on Twitter attempted to claim that this was “serious”. no. Distinction is important. (Samantha Cole / vise)
Young mechanic on Honda Indiana In Dealership She Gets Amateur Porn Fans Out of work. Her boss may encourage the account [her coworkers] I can reach you with unwanted sexual behavior or opinions. ” (Otilia Steadman / Buzz feed)
China regulator orders Byte dance Suspend initial download looselyOffice apps in style after discovering content on banned sites Facebook and Twitter. These moves have hit startups' broad Internet ambitions. (Zheping Huang / Bloomberg)
industry
Twitter The original SMS service was disabled in most countries. This change marks the end of the Twitter era. When the service started, it was built around SMS. (Jacob Castrenakes / The budge)
inside Magic leap Manned detail. The VR company raised $ 2.6 billion and then fired half of its employees, announcing nothing for seven years. (John Evans / TechCrunch)
A thing to do
Goods that occupy you online during the quarantine period.
Find the COVID-19 exam year. AllClear is a new open source project claiming to have a list of the most comprehensive test sites in the United States, with over 9,000 to date.
Remix this public domain audio clip. The Library of Congress is begging you!
Watch Christine Baranski, Meryl Streep and Audra McDonald perform “Lunch Who Lunch” in Zoom to honor Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday. They're all great, but McDonald's truly goes HAM, it's great to see, hear and hear.
Its a good tweet
Actually listening exhausts the zoom call because it consumes half the energy to perform the act of listening
-Sarah marshall (@remember_sarah) April 27, 2020
What are you proud of this containment? For me I never finished Irish
Casey newton (@caseynewton) April 27, 2020
And lastly…
Resign the chair after throwing the cat during the zoom meeting
Christopher Mele has a story about what not to do at work during the quarantine period.
The cat cried again. Platzer lifted the camera closer to the camera and then threw the screen with both hands.
The cat creaked when it was thrown.
Don't throw your cat out of the screen when you're zoomed! To be honest, some of us were the only part of your appearance in Zoom.
Talk to us
Send tips, comments, questions and fan fiction about the tech giants casey@theverge.com and zoe@theverge.com.