Google and Apple partner up to defeat COVID-19 outbreak, tech giants to jointly develop technology for contact tracing

In what comes as a rousing development, tech giants Apple and Google have joined hands to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak, which is spreading like wildfire across the world and is threatening the human race at a global scale. The multinational companies, which hold the largest market capitalisations in the sphere of technology, have decided to put their joint efforts in developing technology that will help world governments to cut the spread of the virus and save lives in order to "get society back up and running".

"Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design," an announcement by Google LLC read, adding, "Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing. Given the urgent need, the plan is to implement this solution in two steps while maintaining strong protections around user privacy."

According to the company statement, contact tracing has been identified as a viable method by public health organisations to cut the spread of the virus, since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals.

The announcement further elaborates on the two-step plan by Google and Apple to help the world deal with the coronavirus crisis. Here are the steps, according to the Google LLC statement:

First, in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores. 

Second, in the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms. According to the tech giants, this is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate if they choose to opt-in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities.

"Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders. We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyse," the statement adds.

Finally, it was emphasised that both companies believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems.

"Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life," the statement concluded.