The UK's NHS has confirmed plans to use Apple's contact tracing technology in an upcoming app that will warn users if they've recently been in contact with someone suspected to be infected with coronavirus (via BBC News).

open graph
Britain's health secretary Matt Hancock, who announced the move at the government's daily pandemic press briefing, said the NHS was "working closely with the world's leading tech companies" on the initiative.

Apple and Google are working together on Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world. Apple says that user privacy and security will be central to the design of the project.

The BBC reports that the British health service's digital innovation unit, NHSX, wasn't aware of the project before it was announced on Friday, but now plans to integrate the technology into its app.

Doing so should mean the NHS app won't have to use workarounds to keep monitoring the signals even when the app is not being used.

The basic idea behind the app is that people who have self-diagnosed as having coronavirus will be able to declare their status in the app, which will then send an alert to anyone who has recently been close to them for an extended period of time.

"If you become unwell with the symptoms of coronavirus, you can securely tell this new NHS app," Hancock explained.

"And the app will then send an alert anonymously to other app users that you've been in significant contact with over the past few days, even before you had symptoms, so that they know and can act accordingly.

"All data will be handled according to the highest ethical and security standards, and would only be used for NHS care and research.

"And we won't hold it any longer than is needed."

According to the report, a pre-release version of the software will be tested with families at a secure location in the North of England next week.

Top Rated Comments

MecPro Avatar
69 months ago
I figured when I read this on Macrumours on Friday and then the Government mentioned it yesterday that they wouldn’t redesign the wheel.

I’m personally OK with this only due to Apples influence of user privacy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FrankieTDouglas Avatar
69 months ago

Agreed. This article does a great job explaining my attitude on the use of such technology...
https://reason.com/2020/04/10/the-surveillance-state-thrives-during-the-pandemic/
Exactly this. Meanwhile, there are people out there like those below, who show how easily some people willingly and eagerly give up their privacy. Almost using the standard script for every time some "emergency action" has to be taken against "some enemy" that leaves us with less and less freedom and privacy in the aftermath. This particular story pertains to the UK, which already has one of the most vast CCT networks in the world. How short of a reign do people want to be kept on? At least China had to run over their own citizens with tanks and seize it by force. Now, we have people applauding for such a regime.


Contact tracing is, by its very nature, highly invasive. But it's highly necessary right now. Without using technology like this, less efficient 'old style' contact tracing will happen anyway - and that data will sit on the same servers as this data will. So really don't think you've got much to lose by opting in.

Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Futurix Avatar
69 months ago

How about no? And let's just stop opening the gate to even more widespread tracking?

You can opt-in NOW. But we've also seen how quickly every government has flexed on eliminating even the most basic of rights, with some countries arresting people even for jogging. There's absolutely zero trust that this app won't end up being abused.
Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LondonChris Avatar
69 months ago

How about no? And let's just stop opening the gate to even more widespread tracking?

You can opt-in NOW. But we've also seen how quickly every government has flexed on eliminating even the most basic of rights, with some countries arresting people even for jogging. There's absolutely zero trust that this app won't end up being abused.
Contact tracing is, by its very nature, highly invasive. But it's highly necessary right now. Without using technology like this, less efficient 'old style' contact tracing will happen anyway - and that data will sit on the same servers as this data will. So really don't think you've got much to lose by opting in.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DoctorTech Avatar
69 months ago

How about no? And let's just stop opening the gate to even more widespread tracking?

You can opt-in NOW. But we've also seen how quickly every government has flexed on eliminating even the most basic of rights, with some countries arresting people even for jogging. There's absolutely zero trust that this app won't end up being abused.
Agreed. This article does a great job explaining my attitude on the use of such technology...
https://reason.com/2020/04/10/the-surveillance-state-thrives-during-the-pandemic/
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twistedpixel8 Avatar
69 months ago

Ah yes, the slippery slope argument - the reason to never do anything new.

Your rights aren't eliminated - they are temporarily suspended, for a very good reason. Jogging is still allowed in most locations, with the arrests usually related to it being used as a cover-up to avoid restrictions for other activity (and frankly, it boggles my mind that jogging is still allowed - rapid movement combined with rapid breathing and large amount of perspiration sounds like a super-spreading risk to me!).

Apple's participation sounds like a reasonable guarantee of decent privacy here. And if you'll look at the technologies involved - it will be impossible to hijack that for sinister purposes.
Thank you! Finally, someone who agrees that runners are an issue and should be told to do their running somewhere isolated and away from other people. I’ve tried to politely explain this to runners and all I get back is “there’s no evidence to say heavy breathing is a transmission vector” or a tirade of abusive language.

It’s like far too many people can’t think for themselves anymore.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...