"PM Justin Trudeau said the government is working with different partners on potential contact tracing apps and with Apple & Google on updates they are making. 'We will be able to recommend strongly to Canadians a particular app that will help us manage the spread of COVID-19."
https://twitter.com/PnPCBC/status/1263853876169658380
No Thanks. I'll pass.
Me too. This is an infringement of civil liberties which is unlikely to actually suppress the spread of covid-19. We should note, however, that China is doing this and more, and it's all mandatory on pain of becoming a social outcast.
Me three. Isn't BC already doing a great job of contact tracing? Why not follow that lead instead of giving Apple and Google billions and sacraficing civil liberties (even if only in the short term as claimed).
The argument the governments will use is that not only will the apps provide real-time information much more quickly, but that with the government finances the way they are, they will have no choice as this method will (supposedly) be cheaper than what BC has done.
I never cease to be amazed at how vehemently Canadians decry the Chinese system collecting personal data while ignoring the fact that we are forced to share just as much information. Try getting a mortgage without a good credit score in Canada. Try getting a credit card or any kind of personal loan if you have not built up a credit score by borrowing money from a capitalist. Our tax laws are supposed to require everyone to disclose all their income and sales transactions to our government. Our government has a security arm that continuely monitors peaceful activists in the indigenous and environmental communites.
I would love to live in a country with real privacy protections but I do not see one anywhere. If you are a peace loving citizen of China that believes in its political system you have less to fear from your government than a Canadian teenager playing paintball and discussing religion with someone from the Middle East.
I am truly glad that I live in Canada, on Vancouver Island, and would not prefer to live in China but if I was given a choice between the US and China I would pick living in China every time. I'm not even black or Latino just an old leftist but vocalizing my world view could get me into deep trouble in many places in the US with "government" authorities.