Australia’s Coronavirus tracing app, Named COVIDSAFE, has been released as it attempts to stop the spread of the deadly pandemic in the nation.
People downloading the app will be asked to Enter a name, their age range, mobile number and postal code.
Software downloaders will be notified if they have contact with another user who tests positive for coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has marked the app to be able to reduce nationwide coronovirus-induced restrictions in Australia.
Using Bluetooth technology, the app exchanges “pings” or “digital handshakes” with another user when they come within 1.5 meters of each other, and then logs this contact and encrypts it..
The data remains encrypted on the user’s phone for 21 days, after which it is deleted if they are not in contact with the confirmed case.
There will be two stages of consent in the application, for which people have to agree: initially the data can be collected when they download the app, and secondly if they are diagnosed with a virus then on their phone Release the data.
If the person with the application tested positive for COVID-19, and they gave consent to share the information, it would be sent to a central server.
From here, state and territory health officials can access it and start contacting others who may have a coronovirus contract.
Chief Medical Officer(CMO) Brendan Murphy said the app would provide quick contact tracing, which was necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said strict legislation would govern the use of information that the app collects.
A user will be unable to access the data on their phone and Commonwealth officials and law enforcement will be unable to access the central server.
The central server must store all data in Australia, and cannot be transferred overseas.