COVID-19 Alert SA app vs Facebook - Permissions compared

Hummercellc said:
The difference is, who has access to the data collected?

Facebook vs the South African Government, I trust Facebook more.
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The illusion you have is that facebook, whatsapp, twitter et al doesn't give your data to the government
 
Facebook is dodgy AF but it pales in comparison to ANYTHING ANC.
 
I dont have the Facebook app installed an I run fb in duckduckgo browser and not my real name...
 
Sounds like the app does the exact same mechanism of tracking as the app we use here in Germany.
 
Why is it SO important that the public install this app?

Surely it's better to have an app that alerts you when you're in close proximity to a violent criminal as opposed to when you're close to someone who's had a overblown variant of the Coronavirus?
 
Giving the impression that the app is guaranteed to be anonymous and can't track location because it only stores and can upload "random" Bluetooth codes is very disingenuous IMHO which makes me immediately wary... because they fail to mention that other devices can also store your "random" Bluetooth code, and that data could be used for correlation.

phaedrus42 said:
If you accept the app, you have fallen for the narrative, and app 2.0 may be actively harmful.
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Exactly this, as well. They could force mass adoption by making it compulsory for more and more things, e.g. using transport, entering the workplace, going shopping (as they did in China) until everyone is using it, happily believing it is completely anonymous, but then what guarantee is there that there won't be an update one day with some deeply buried choice changes to the T&Cs or some new feature sold as a convenience (but just accept the new app permissions, please).
 
FaSMaN said:
The data is only anonymous because it has not been correlated, it can be de anonymized with a bit of work.

No data can be considered "Anonymous" if you collect enough of it.
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True, but it is stated that the data is retained only for 2 weeks. The app collects very little data and over such a short time period it can be considered quite a minimal privacy-risk.

LCBXX said:
Why is it SO important that the public install this app?

Surely it's better to have an app that alerts you when you're in close proximity to a violent criminal as opposed to when you're close to someone who's had a overblown variant of the Coronavirus?
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You live in South Africa, so you're probably in fairly close proximity to a violent criminal... no app needed really.

garp said:
Exactly this, as well. They could force mass adoption by making it compulsory for more and more things
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This is a straw-man if ever I did see one. The president has encouraged people to use it, but there is no compulsion anywhere. No business, no transport, nothing is going to check if you have it installed. No force, just suggestion.

There is literally one reason for this app, to get alerted if you come into relatively close contact with someone who tested positive in the last 14 days, and to anonymously let others know if you tested positive. That's all.

Sure, COVID doesn't seem that dangerous, SA has a comparatively low death-rate. But as low as the risks are, they're not zero. So this sort of information is especially valuable to people with elderly or diabetic family members.


Disclaimer: I don't have the app, don't intend to install it because I'm just far too lazy. I also don't have any bluetooth accessories so I never switch it on on the phone anyway, what for. If I were out and about more often, and I had elderly relatives at home, I actually probably would install it.

IMO most of the response to this is just a knee-jerk against the ANC. Government suggested it, it must be bad. I can guarantee you that if Mother Theresa suddenly came down from heaven and took control of the ANC behind the scenes, and did everything morally, ethically, and logically correct, people would still **** on the ANC and government in general and find excuses to criticise.
 
newby_investor said:
True, but it is stated that the data is retained only for 2 weeks. The app collects very little data and over such a short time period it can be considered quite a minimal privacy-risk.



You live in South Africa, so you're probably in fairly close proximity to a violent criminal... no app needed really.


This is a straw-man if ever I did see one. The president has encouraged people to use it, but there is no compulsion anywhere. No business, no transport, nothing is going to check if you have it installed. No force, just suggestion.

There is literally one reason for this app, to get alerted if you come into relatively close contact with someone who tested positive in the last 14 days, and to anonymously let others know if you tested positive. That's all.

Sure, COVID doesn't seem that dangerous, SA has a comparatively low death-rate. But as low as the risks are, they're not zero. So this sort of information is especially valuable to people with elderly or diabetic family members.


Disclaimer: I don't have the app, don't intend to install it because I'm just far too lazy. I also don't have any bluetooth accessories so I never switch it on on the phone anyway, what for. If I were out and about more often, and I had elderly relatives at home, I actually probably would install it.

IMO most of the response to this is just a knee-jerk against the ANC. Government suggested it, it must be bad. I can guarantee you that if Mother Theresa suddenly came down from heaven and took control of the ANC behind the scenes, and did everything morally, ethically, and logically correct, people would still **** on the ANC and government in general and find excuses to criticise.
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You make a good argument, but Because some Muppet that think he is president said so, no, I am not part of its sheep flock, still not installing it.
It is not as much about data theft rather that it originates from the biggest criminal organisation in RSA that is known for it's bullshittery. I will not bring anything from this criminal organisation anywhere near me if I can help it, not even a piece of string if it comes from these criminals
 
newby_investor said:
You live in South Africa, so you're probably in fairly close proximity to a violent criminal... no app needed really.
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Wonder why I need to install an app for the 0.01% chance that I'll be in proximity to someone who's tested positive for Covid-19, who also needed to installed the app and remembered to update their Covid-19 status on said app. And wear a mask. And social distance.

It's laughable, actually. Install the Government's Covid-19 app and do the Jerusalema challenge, Sheeple.

EDIT: Come to think of it: everyone should install the app and say they tested positive for COVID-19, en masse.
 
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LCBXX said:
Wonder why I need to install an app for the 0.01% chance that I'll be in proximity to someone who's tested positive for Covid-19, who also needed to installed the app and remembered to update their Covid-19 status on said app. And wear a mask. And social distance.
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Sure, if this sort of thing was done from the beginning it would have been a lot more effective. But even if DoH had an app ready on 27 March, I suspect it wouldn't have done much because the response would probably have been something like this:

LCBXX said:
It's laughable, actually. Install the Government's Covid-19 app and do the Jerusalema challenge, Sheeple.

EDIT: Come to think of it: everyone should install the app and say they tested positive for COVID-19, en masse.
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Completely and utterly unhelpful. Not just unhelpful in fact but probably harmful.
 
newby_investor said:
Sure, if this sort of thing was done from the beginning it would have been a lot more effective. But even if DoH had an app ready on 27 March, I suspect it wouldn't have done much because the response would probably have been something like this:


Completely and utterly unhelpful. Not just unhelpful in fact but probably harmful.
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Relax mate. Unless you're not paying attention, the regulations and rules around lockdown did far, far, more damage than COVID-19 did.
 
LCBXX said:
Relax mate. Unless you're not paying attention, the regulations and rules around lockdown did far, far, more damage than COVID-19 did.
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I actually can't disagree with you there. I figured this would happen from very early in the lockdown.
 
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