Apple, Google to Launch Contact Tracing Technology for Phones
2020-04-16
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Apple and Google have teamed up to launch a mobile phone tool to follow the contacts of people infected with coronavirus.
2The technology is a form of "contact tracing," a method used to identify people who may have had contact with infected individuals in an attempt to prevent additional spread of disease.
3Health officials say the method is an effective way to help slow the spread of highly contagious viruses.
4The current coronavirus, which is affecting much of the world, causes the disease COVID-19.
5Many carriers of the virus do not know they have it because they have no immediate signs of illness.
6They could be spreading the virus unknowingly.
7Contact tracing is a way to identify others who may have been infected.
8The two companies say Bluetooth wireless technology will permit devices near each other to exchange information.
9A record of the Bluetooth signals between devices would be created.
10If a device user becomes infected with the virus and agrees to share that information, the record could be used to inform other people that the user could have infected.
11Apple and Google say they first plan to release app versions of the technology for Android and Apple devices by mid-May.
12Over the next several months, they plan to build the tracking technology directly into the device operating systems.
13Numerous technology companies and organizations have been seeking to develop tools to help fight COVID-19.
14Some of the existing tools use data from mobile devices to measure and record population movements.
15Health and government officials have called for such technology to help fight the current crisis.
16Government-backed apps have already been launched in some countries, including Singapore, South Korea, India and China.
17The technology is also being developed in Britain, Germany and Italy.
18Israel's Health Ministry released a contact-tracing app in late March.
19The app came after the Israeli government confirmed that the country's security service had started collecting data from citizens' phones to trace the movements of virus patients.
20In a joint statement, Apple and Google said "there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world's most pressing problems."
21The companies also said they would be cooperating with developers, governments and public health providers to use the power of technology "to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life."
22Major technology companies - including Google and Facebook - have been criticized in recent years for not protecting user privacy.
23In some cases, companies have been accused of secretly selling user data.
24In the past, Apple chief Tim Cook has criticized Facebook and Google for putting profits ahead of user privacy.
25In announcing the new system, Apple and Google said its developers had built in "strong protections around user privacy."
26The companies said the technology would not identify personal information or record user movements.
27It is designed to only capture data about when users' phones have been near each other.
28Data will not be kept on company servers, Apple and Google added.
29The two companies also said they would "openly publish information" about their work for others to examine.
30Pam Dixon is director of the not-for-profit World Privacy Forum.
31She told The Associated Press that after discussing the new system with a top Apple official, she is convinced that people's privacy will be protected.
32"I think they've taken care of some of the really big problems," she said.
33Dixon noted that the companies said they are able to turn off the system when it is no longer needed.
34"The government is not going to have identity information of those testing positive."
35The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, said in a statement that the technology would only be effective if those using the system trust the companies to protect their privacy.
36It added that many members of society are likely to be left out of such systems because they lack access to technology to use them.
37However, the ACLU noted that the Apple-Google technology "appears to mitigate the worst privacy and centralization risks."
38But the statement added, "There is still room for improvement."
39I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Apple and Google have teamed up to launch a mobile phone tool to follow the contacts of people infected with coronavirus. 2The technology is a form of "contact tracing," a method used to identify people who may have had contact with infected individuals in an attempt to prevent additional spread of disease. 3Health officials say the method is an effective way to help slow the spread of highly contagious viruses. 4The current coronavirus, which is affecting much of the world, causes the disease COVID-19. Many carriers of the virus do not know they have it because they have no immediate signs of illness. They could be spreading the virus unknowingly. Contact tracing is a way to identify others who may have been infected. 5The two companies say Bluetooth wireless technology will permit devices near each other to exchange information. A record of the Bluetooth signals between devices would be created. 6If a device user becomes infected with the virus and agrees to share that information, the record could be used to inform other people that the user could have infected. 7Apple and Google say they first plan to release app versions of the technology for Android and Apple devices by mid-May. Over the next several months, they plan to build the tracking technology directly into the device operating systems. 8Numerous technology companies and organizations have been seeking to develop tools to help fight COVID-19. Some of the existing tools use data from mobile devices to measure and record population movements. 9Health and government officials have called for such technology to help fight the current crisis. Government-backed apps have already been launched in some countries, including Singapore, South Korea, India and China. The technology is also being developed in Britain, Germany and Italy. 10Israel's Health Ministry released a contact-tracing app in late March. The app came after the Israeli government confirmed that the country's security service had started collecting data from citizens' phones to trace the movements of virus patients. 11In a joint statement, Apple and Google said "there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world's most pressing problems." 12The companies also said they would be cooperating with developers, governments and public health providers to use the power of technology "to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life." 13Major technology companies - including Google and Facebook - have been criticized in recent years for not protecting user privacy. In some cases, companies have been accused of secretly selling user data. In the past, Apple chief Tim Cook has criticized Facebook and Google for putting profits ahead of user privacy. 14In announcing the new system, Apple and Google said its developers had built in "strong protections around user privacy." 15The companies said the technology would not identify personal information or record user movements. It is designed to only capture data about when users' phones have been near each other. Data will not be kept on company servers, Apple and Google added. 16The two companies also said they would "openly publish information" about their work for others to examine. 17Pam Dixon is director of the not-for-profit World Privacy Forum. She told The Associated Press that after discussing the new system with a top Apple official, she is convinced that people's privacy will be protected. 18"I think they've taken care of some of the really big problems," she said. Dixon noted that the companies said they are able to turn off the system when it is no longer needed. "The government is not going to have identity information of those testing positive." 19The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, said in a statement that the technology would only be effective if those using the system trust the companies to protect their privacy. It added that many members of society are likely to be left out of such systems because they lack access to technology to use them. 20However, the ACLU noted that the Apple-Google technology "appears to mitigate the worst privacy and centralization risks." 21But the statement added, "There is still room for improvement." 22I'm Bryan Lynn. 23Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and online sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 24We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27team up - v. to join in cooperation to work together on something 28trace - v. to find the origin of something 29contagious - adj. having a sickness that can be passed on to someone else 30app - n. a program for a smartphone or other device that performs a special function 31accelerate - v. to happen more quickly 32convince - v. to make someone believe something is true 33society - n. a large group of people who live in the same souncty or area and have the same laws, traditions, etc. 34access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone 35mitigate - v. to reduce the harmful effects of something