[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Data collected by the MyTrace app used to track Covid-19 contacts is saved only on the phone and not on government servers, says Khairy Jamaluddin (Photo).
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) said that the authorities would publish the source code of the application soon so that people could see for themselves.
“We should publish it soon so that at least those with a technical bent can make sure the codes confirm what I’m saying,” he told BFM in an interview on Friday (May 8).
MyTrace is a contact tracking application that uses Bluetooth to measure how long a user’s phone has been around other MyTrace users.
If a MyTrace user is diagnosed with Covid-19, this would allow the government to track down and contact those who might have contracted it. The data remains on the phone for 21 days.
The app only works if the user’s Bluetooth is activated.
Khairy said Google and Apple were strict about using Bluetooth technology, and those using their application programming interface (API) had to make sure that data was not stored on any centralized government server.
“It is decentralized on the user’s phone.
“Whoever I’ve been in close contact with, I can’t access that unless they give me permission at the time of testing,” Khairy said, adding that this type of app was used worldwide.
He also said that the app did not collect geographic location data from users.
He added that they did not want to compel people to use the application, but were waiting for its voluntary adoption.
Currently, the app is only available on the Android platform, but Khairy said it should soon be on Apple’s Play Store.
So far, the app has been downloaded more than 100,000 times from the Google Play Store.
[ad_2]
