Ninety seconds to announce a life-saving crown app

Ninety seconds, the launch of IT company Accenture’s elevator over its corona app shouldn’t take longer. But the bell does not have to be worn on Saturday during the “marathon”. “Congratulations, we can make good progress today,” says the president.

Tempo is the keyword in the Ministry of Health this weekend in the search for the application that can help ease the measures of the “smart block”. At the core of nearly seven ideas is source and contact research via an app, which maps recent contacts through BlueTooth.

In the halls of the Hague Ministry of Health, dozens of officials, application developers and experts are busy on Saturday and moving from one room to another. Media and camera technicians walk through the narrow corridors through the internet and power cables. In glass booths and remotely, experts grouped in the “security”, “privacy” and “efficiency” panels question the proposals. Interested parties can see and give their opinion through a live broadcast. At least eight hundred questions came by email.

Also read this article on the growing criticism of the selection process of the crown application

Meanwhile, criticism of the selection process, which started seven days ago with some 750 proposals, is growing. On strict condition: the app may be ready for use on April 28. Since the selection announcement on Friday, nine experts involved, mostly computer scientists and privacy experts, have taken their hands off the process. There was too little information and time to properly evaluate the proposals, they wrote in a statement Friday. They urge Minister Hugo de Jonge (Salud, CDA) to “return” to the drawing board.

There really is no time for a social debate, Minister De Jonge said in conversation with the Saturday after the first day of the appearance. NRC. “Of course it is good to have a debate, I think there is a very lively debate. But the spread of the virus is not expecting that.” Speed ​​matters, he says. “That is why we are looking for applications that are close to launch.” 67 experts observed during the selection, De Jonge emphasizes. He is not so happy that he has nine left. “Everyone determines the contribution they want to make.”

The question of whether an application is necessary in the fight against the coronavirus was not questioned, the experts involved previously said. Therefore, leaving applications aside entirely, De Jonge goes too far. “If you say too quickly, you should want an app like that, you should consider the consequences. It will probably stay on these stringent measures longer.”

Faster and more accurate.

It is clear that GGD’s source and contact research can and perhaps should become “smart digital solutions,” said Sjaak de Gouw, head of the infectious disease portfolio within GGD Nederland and present at the show. That GGD investigation must be “restored to honor,” said De Jonge. De Gouw’s hope is that GGD’s sources and contact research will be faster and more accurate thanks to digital support.

The only question is how and if the strict requirements in terms of privacy, information security and ease of use can be met. There are still important differences between the seven proposals, says De Gouw. Where the data is stored, what can be shared, how privacy is guaranteed. Or what data should the app collect. “That is at least an ID number, the distance to other phones, and the time of contact.”

De Gouw prefers all the information that the GGD would normally also collect. “That would help us more. But we have to choose here between the amount of data and the acceptance of the application. If it is up to us, as soon as possible and as much data as possible.” The GGD knows how to deal with this, he says. “With STDs, we also have data that shouldn’t be exposed on the street.”

The apps will be further refined on Sunday, says De Jonge. “They are not finished yet, not all ten yet. That also makes sense at this stage. They are very serious candidates.” In addition to privacy, information security, and applicability within GGD’s work, the voluntariness of the app is also important, says De Jonge. “Especially when you say out loud that something is voluntary, society has more confidence in it.” Previously, De Jonge did not want to exclude that the application was mandatory. “That has also been a progressive vision for me.”

The government decides how and whether to proceed on Tuesday, after which the House of Representatives debates the plans on Wednesday. The Dutch Data Protection Authority is also investigating the seven proposals and will issue an opinion on Monday. Only if the application meets all the conditions, the ministry will consider its use. “We make no concessions,” said De Jonge. It may be that the ministry is left empty-handed after the ‘massacre’. De Jonge: “There certainly is no really good alternative. You want to use it correctly. You need it “.