UK NHS developers to ‘investigate’ switching to Apple’s COVID-19 tracing API
The UK’s National Health Service is asking its developers to “investigate” switching to Apple and Google’s newly announced APIs for its forthcoming COVID-19 tracing application, following criticism over plans to use a centralised system that would send user data over the internet to a server.
According to a new report from the Financial Times, via 9to5Mac, the NHS is consulting with Zuhlke Engineering, the firm it has hired to develop the new contact tracing application to investigate the “feasibility” of implementing the Exposure Notification API, as per a clause in the contract which states the developers must “investigate the complexity, performance and feasibility of implementing native Apple and Google contact tracing APIs within the existing proximity mobile application and platform”
Apple’s COVID-19 tracing APIs, which are currently being tested ahead of an official public release, will utilise Bluetooth technology to alert users when they have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive with the coronavirus. The system would not store data on a server and all personal information would be kept private.