[clug] Apple-Google Contact Tracing API. V1 released May 20, 2020

[Hugh Fisher]

On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 8:16 AM steve jenkin via linux
<linux at lists.samba.org> wrote:
>
> The Apple-Google notification service is designed to be anonymous & tracking-resistant, without a central database of user details or central processing of contacts.
> There is a central database of rapidly (15-30 min) keys generated on devices.
>
> Unclear to me who runs the DB? On what hardware?
> Google’s tech spec page contains sample code for an “Exposure Notifications server” - presumably the local public health authority runs one of these, known to its App.

Intent is that each country runs its own DB, on whatever hardware it wants.
And Apple/Google aren't building the app(s) either.

> App users who are diagnosed Covid-19 positive, notify the App, which uploads the last 14 days of keys ’seen’ by the device. The devices with those keys are sent notifications.
>
> It’s unclear to me how the keys-device connection is made within the server database.
> The Notification side of the server must push a notification to devices (presumably when they connect to upload keys).
>
> Currently, App developers - presumably public health authorities - have to build local Apps for users to download & ‘accept’. This allows local ’tuning’ of what constitutes a ‘contact’.
>
> In coming months, this interface will be baked into the O/S of both Android and iOS.

The advantage of the Apple/Google API is that the proximity detection is built
into the kernel as a background task. Don't have to worry about the app being
foreground or not, and it can be left running without draining the battery.

-- 

        cheers,
        Hugh Fisher