COVID-19: Privacy and Confidentiality Issues with Contact Tracing Apps

Abstract

Contact tracing has been a main topic of conversation in the COVID-19 pandemic. While implementation of app-based contact tracing can be beneficial, it raises concerns of privacy and confidentiality. To better understand how these issues were addressed, a qualitative study was conducted which analyzes the current status of contact tracing apps from Iceland, Italy, Germany, India, Singapore, Japan, and 4 states within the United States. The comparisons made amongst the contact tracing apps will be surveyed across numerous criteria. The results show contact tracing apps are able to assist in the COVID-19 caseloads by determining self-isolation periods. Future developments can change these apps into a tool for returning to normalcy that may require more user information disclosure, but limited protections of privacy and confidentiality issues have not been addressed at a worldwide level