Apple's Contact Tracing System Will Require Verification When Users Report Testing Positive for COVID-19

Apple today in a press briefing indicated that its upcoming COVID-19 contact tracing system with Google will have a verification flow, meaning that users will be required to submit proof in order to report that they have tested positive for the disease.

applegoogle
As an example, Apple said that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 could receive a QR code with their test results and then scan that QR code within the contact tracing system for confirmation purposes, but the exact implementation remains to be seen. Apple said verification will be handled by an external entity and could vary by region.

Verification will be a very important step in Apple's and Google's contact tracing system, preventing users from falsely reporting that they have tested positive for COVID-19 and inflicting unnecessary worry on others.

Apple also ensured that the contact tracing system will not be enforced by governments and will instead function on an opt-in basis.

Apple and Google revealed plans for their contact tracing system earlier this week. The joint effort will use Bluetooth to alert users when they have potentially come in close contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, while respecting user privacy.

apple google contact tracing slide
apple google contract tracing
Read our coverage of the announcement for more details.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

ipedro Avatar
56 months ago

What if I want absolutely nothing to do with this?
The thing that this pandemic has revealed about society is the upsetting number of selfish, self centred people we live amongst.

I'm satisfied with the privacy measures built into this system and would absolutely opt in so that together, we can prevent further infections and end the suffering for everybody.

The thing about selfish people is that they depend on there being enough selfless people in society to end this pandemic for everyone. If there are more selfish people than selfless people, then it'll end up coming back and hurting the selfish people. Karma, as explained by science.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
locovaca Avatar
56 months ago
Oh just like I can “turn off” the Bluetooth in Control Center but it doesn’t turn it off?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nexu Avatar
56 months ago
Actually privacy implementation in this project was really well done. Would opt in as well
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ziggie216 Avatar
56 months ago

What if I want absolutely nothing to do with this?
then do nothing
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlazednSleepy Avatar
56 months ago

Oh just like I can “turn off” the Bluetooth in Control Center but it doesn’t turn it off?
Turn it off in the settings then.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
calzon65 Avatar
56 months ago
This still feels creepy, especially with Google involved.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)