Indian Govt Launches ‘Arogya Setu’ App to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
The Government of India has launched a mobile app called Aarogya Setu to help people assess their risk of contracting the coronavirus. Developed through a public-private partnership, the app uses Bluetooth and GPS to track whether the user has been in close contact with anyone infected with the novel virus. It does so by detecting other devices with Aarogya Setu in close proximity of each other. While many social media users are wondering about the privacy repercussions of an app that is designed to track users and their interactions with others, the Government claims that the tracking will help them take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The app requires Bluetooth, location and data-sharing permissions, but the privacy policy states that all personal data collected by the app is encrypted and stays on the phone until it is needed for facilitating medical intervention. According to the official Play Store listing page: “Aarogya Setu is a m...