Scotland Launches Contact Tracing App With Apple and Google API

Scotland is the latest country to implement Apple's and Google's Exposure Notification API in their COVID-19 contact tracing app, now available on the App Store.

nhs test protect scotland
The Protect Scotland app was developed by NHS Scotland and is based on the exposure notification technology that was jointly developed by Google and Apple. Some other countries that have implemented or are committed to implementing the API include Italy, Latvia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Saudi Arabia.

Built into iOS 13.5 on the Apple side, the API allows iPhones and Android smartphones to interface with one another for contact tracing purposes. If and when you happen to be nearby someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, you can receive a notification and take the appropriate steps to self isolate and seek medical help if necessary.


Apple recently rolled out a new Exposure Notifications System that does not require an app to be downloaded for the feature to be turned on. After updating to iOS 13.7, a new ‌Exposure Notification‌ section appears in the Settings app where there's a toggle to "Turn on Exposure Notifications."

Activating Exposure Notifications lets you know if the feature is available in your country, state, or region through a contact tracing app. In areas that are participating in the Exposure Notifications Express program, users can turn on Exposure Notifications without the need to download an app.

Apple and Google have stressed the privacy of their Bluetooth-based solution, which must be enabled in the Settings app under Privacy > Health > COVID-19 Exposure Logging to function. Read our Exposure Notification guide for more details.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Top Rated Comments

KrisLord Avatar
63 months ago
So much for England’s world beating track and trace system.

I wonder what happens if this app is installed on lots of phones south of the border?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
polyphenol Avatar
63 months ago
Come on Wales. Put the boot into England even further and announce we too have such an app.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canned_tuna_og Avatar
63 months ago

Yup. Gotta stay on top of that suuuuuper deadly cold. :rolleyes:
My childhood friend died of COVID on May 4. Contracted the virus via the hospital's HVAC system. Went into the hospital to deliver her 4th baby. Left 44 days later in a coffin. Be respectful.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kingjames1970 Avatar
63 months ago
This is the kind of app that is designed with privacy in mind and I would put on my phone but there was zero chance I was going to download the botched Boris/Cummings app. Just another example of Scotland being able to run its own affairs better without being shackled to Westminster.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
63 months ago
Downloaded and installed. Will be handy as I'll be visiting Dundee next week. Though not so handy in the village, but everyone is staying two meters apart except for tourists that are selfish enough to be on holiday during a global pandemic so surely they'll be selfish enough to not install a COVID tracking app on their phones.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
63 months ago

Gimmicky, waste of government money, and full of privacy concerns. Sounds great..
Please go read the spec ('https://blog.google/documents/73/Exposure_Notification_-_FAQ_v1.1.pdf') and then provide a list of ways in which privacy can be compromised in the system actually implemented, not in some straw man system that you’ve made up.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)