Google And Apple Partners To Create Contact Tracing APIs For Android, iOS And Battle COVID-19

As you all know, we are currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and have to stay away from each other. Ironically, it is bringing two unlikely companies closer together. Google has announced a partnership with Apple to create APIs and system-level technology for contact tracing, which in the public health industry means, the process of identifying people who may have come into contact with infected persons, followed by the subsequent collection of additional information about those contacts. 




Google says, there will be two steps for this process, with the hope being that the information collected from both Android and iOS users can be quickly accessed by health officials.

Based on these upcoming tools, governments will be able to build apps that work across Android and iOS. When two people are in close-range, their phones will exchange anonymous identifiers. If an individual gets diagnosed with COVID-19, they can have their device transmit a list of everybody they’ve been in contact with to the cloud.

Meanwhile, the second person’s phone will periodically download a list of everyone that has tested positive in their area. If a match occurs, they will be notified and prompted to contact the health authorities.

These APIs will be available by May, and those “official apps” from public health agencies can be downloaded through Google Play and the App Store.

A second joint effort is focused on creating a “broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms.”

This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate if they choose to opt-in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities

Both companies in their joint press release this morning are heavily focused on the privacy angle. Key points include:

• Explicit user consent required
• Doesn’t collect personally identifiable information or user location data
• List of people you’ve been in contact with never leaves your phone
• People who test positive are not identified to other users, Google or Apple
• Will only be used for contact tracing by public health authorities for COVID-19 pandemic management

Today, they released draft technical documentation about the Bluetooth and cryptography specifications and framework:

• Privacy-safe contact tracing using Bluetooth Low Energy
• Contact Tracing Bluetooth Specification
• Contact Tracing Cryptography Specification

All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.

For us users, whatever we can do to help health officials track this virus is vital. No one is immune, so in times like these, it’s good to see two rivals come together and put their resources towards a common goal.

To help public health officials slow the spread of #COVID19, Google & @Apple are working on a contact tracing approach designed with strong controls and protections for user privacy. @tim_cook and I are committed to working together on these efforts.https://t.co/T0j88YBcFu

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 10, 2020