Covidsafe App you really want it

[Sergeant Hartman]

So the app is finally here, who is installing it. I for one will side with the right wing craziescrazies this one. Not installing it and no one in my family will install it.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/austr ... cc519eb1dd

All of my IT friends, no one will install it as well.

[AussieCapitalist]

A government monitoring its citizens personal movements during a so called emergency giving them unprecedent power, yeah nothing could go wrong there.

Anyone who uses this app is a traitor to the Australian people and I am going to send a letter to my federal MP and ask what he intends to do about this.


To the older lads on this forum who handed in firearms in 1996 did you ever think the day would come that your government who at the time wanted you disarmed for national security reasons, now wants to track your every move for national security reasons?

[Oldbloke]

Not I said the little red hen.
Wife says data will be held in US by Amazon. Is that right? FMD. All the more reason not to down load.

[Sergeant Hartman]

Yep.. and what's interesting is, that all data held in US is subject to US laws where federal agencies have access (surveillance) to the data without any warrants.

[TassieTiger]

Well at least we will get an idea of the number of outright morons in the country...I’ve already had some relatives lobbying me to down load it...and despite my best efforts, they believe it’s in their best interests.

Saw the USA kicking this around as well...

[Stix]

It'll happen...eventually...& i think at the sooner end of eventually too...!!

They've gone down that path with medical records, already have heavily regulated licences of many kinds, TFN's, Medicare numbers & can track your movements by rego plate recognition if they want......
Your police records & medical history arent wiped either...not unless it suits them...
Just ask anyone who's had a medical negligance case against a large hospital--if the records havent fallen into the hands of outsiders, they'll go missing if powers are negligent...same with police records...!!

And we have silicone/IT companies that have & own our data anyway---hell i have a ragged example of sheep skin from a farmer i was going to try & re-hydrate & make something out of for kicks--i figured there might be enough for a set of moccasins or something similar, so googled things like "making moccasins/uggboots", & shoe sole's etc...
Next time i logged on here, all the adds were for bloody ugg boots FFS...

The thing is, i have all location data switched off & show up as being in NSW because of my ISP if on wifi, but still this crap happens...

Its just the new way of invasive door-knocking & cold calling Kirby vaccuum sales strategy, & the Govt want in on it, because they KNOW they will have triple the power they already have...

Oppression cloaked in the claim of "Democracy & Freedom", we're a lot closer to a full-on socialist regime than we think..hell even local governments think you are there to serve them now & completely misuse the power they have--or that we have allowed them to have... ....& they (all levels of Govt) chip away a little bit at a time, & every now & then, they put the feelers out for a big chunk like this to test the waters...

Not a chance ill be downloading it...i dont need the Government to micro-manage me with regard to keeping a safe distance from idiots...!!!...& i dont believe for a single moment thats the reason they want to introduce it either...!!!

Fark em...!!!...

[Blr243]

I’m not jumping into weather or not I will or won’t.... I have not given it much thought yet. But what did enter my mind is this ......can the government actually enforce that we download it weather we like it or not ? Just a question. I usually stay out of politics on this site

[Blr243]

I just clicked on a covid app on my iPad. I’m not sure if it’s the same app that stix is referring to. But I did notice an interesting figure Northern Territory has extremely low number of covid cases compared to the rest of us. DR blr has a theory on why is it so ....most of the population is fishing in offshore vessels reeling in big snapper and golden trevally. .....a lot more are in rivers and creeks catching mudcrabs and flicking lures . Some are hunting buffalo around swamps , some are on quadbikes Chaseing boars with dogs and hoping they don’t hit anthills hidden in the long grass .....when they take a break all these people are sitting in the red dirt under a big mango tree drinking so much beer that covid is too scared to go near them. Basically everyone living in the Northern Territory is too happy to become ill. There is so much we have to learn from our sunburned beer bellied relatives in the north. I’ll be submitting my theory to the AMA tomorrow and looking forward to their response

[Bill]

who uses WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Google play on their phone........

Guess what they all do .....

The Govt can already access all you s**t thru a bunch of agencies

[womble]

Who has a phone.
Guess what it does.

Even worse, guess where that phone was made. And what does the party use phones for there

If you want the app, go for it. Like Bill said, Makes no difference. You’re already being monitored and if they want to take a closer look they can

[TassieTiger]

who uses WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Google play on their phone........

Guess what they all do .....

The Govt can already access all you s**t thru a bunch of agencies

They can log and trace Ip addresses, infiltrate GPS data loggers with any reporting function, etc - but regardless of these facts, you have not given the govt permission to do so...which may or may not mean something if and when.
The world is screaming out as to how valuable our data is - why would you volunteer it, knowingly?
It sounds like you’ve already downloaded it Bill...hang On, I’ll check lol.

[womble]

But the police can easily get access without your permission.
I would’nt stress about the government. Western world, capatalist owned. Here you’re just a commodity or a consumer. They just want your data to milk your money. Your illusion of freedom will be placated to keep making them rich.
You could do worse.

[womble]

Dumb app anyway from the looks of it. Unless the infected are mandated to have it, then how can it save anyone who’s not infected.
And even if s**t go so bad that it could be mandated, just strap that phone to old mates kelpie and watch the black SUV’s chase it around.

[womble]

Tonight on ACA
ASIO has tracked a kelpie infected with the corona virus to a massage parlour in Thailand. We’ve also had reports that he’s a doggy Plummer who’s been ripping off senior citizens

[wanneroo]

I'd say this is a horror 1984 situation. Wouldn't touch that app with a 10 foot pole. Do not trust these government or tech companies at all, no reason to.

[perentie]

Its only for smart phones isnt it?
I have an old flip phone so what will they do then?

[poid]

So here's how it works:

- you put in your name, number, 'age range' and post code
- the app collects data using bluetooth, so it logs people you come into contact with and the strength of the bluetooth signal as a way of figuring out how close you are
- it logs that info in the app, supposedly encrypted and supposedly only your phone. It says it doesn't collect any location data so it can't tell where you are, only who you've been in contact with. It stores data for 21 days.

Then, if you test positive they ask you to upload that data so they can 'contact-trace' you have been in contact with, any info that has been passed up into the cloud is only deleted if you use another form to ask them to delete it..

In theory that's all fairly secure. They seem to be using a cloud based here, not overseas. However I still won't be installing it:

- the security level they are using in govt speak is 'protected' for the cloud. That's pretty much their lowest security classification in terms of access to info within govt. Not good enough IMO.
- the app itself may not collect location data, but it collects your mobile number. If you wanted to, you could easily match data in the app with other location data, so that gives them where you are, who you are hanging out with (that has installed the app) and for how long. I expect that they will use it to police 'stay at home' orders, because your phone number will get flagged as "covid positive".
- even if you never allow it to upload anything into the cloud, if someone else does it can include your details if have the app and you've been near them and you have no control over that
- the fact that data stays in the cloud means that if they change who can access that data, it could be used for different purposes later on. I find it sus that they don't have a policy over when data in the cloud gets deleted (surely it should be deleted as soon as the covid thing blows over?)

Our govt has a piss poor record when it comes to privacy.

[Sergeant Hartman]

Buy you a new phone

[womble]

I guess it's apocalypse relevant.
If it told me There were zombies in my vacinity, hell yeah.
But we lucked out with plague. It's a great app until you're the one with the plague. Then it becomes a yellow star arm band.

[Quirinus]

They say it doesn't track your whereabouts, but asks for permission to access your location (GPS and Network).
It also wants to be able to Bluetooth pair with other phones. Um...no thanks.
Your 'unique id' is encrypted. Big deal. Anyone else can then track you using that encrypted id instead, as it will be just as unique as the unencrypted id.
Data goes to the cloud. In another country. Controlled by a corporation. No thanks.
They say it only logs people less than 1.5m away. Bluetooth's ability to resolve distance with signal strength has a margin for error of 2m. So anyone up to 3.5m (minimum) away could get logged. Plus it is very easy to boost a Bluetooth signal with a directional antenna to 100s of metres.
Yes facebook and other apps track you, but the Government requires a warrant to get that data. With this app, they don't.
Using this app's usage as a threat to prevent relaxation of restrictions (by saying that if people don't use it the lock down will be longer) is despicable.

It's a no from me.

[Patriot]

It’s already been said here, anyone with a phone is already tracked, I suppose we are all traitors AC.

[Wobble]

Anyone who uses this app is a traitor to the Australian people

Well you're a dramatic one, aren't you

[TassieTiger]

It’s already been said here, anyone with a phone is already tracked, I suppose we are all traitors AC.

No - as has been already said, we cannot be “formally” tracked without court order or a warrant...this is different — you are giving up your whereabouts knowingly...it’s very different.

[Wobble]

Seriously about the app, though.

It works by tracking the location of users and notifying them if they have been in contact with a confirmed case of the virus.

So it'll tell me after I've been exposed, that I was... Great. Thanks?

Not a heads up system to avoid a certain area, place. Nope. After we've knowingly let you expose yourself to risk we'll let you know.

[Oldbloke]

who uses WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Google play on their phone........

Guess what they all do .....

The Govt can already access all you s**t thru a bunch of agencies

Yep, thats right. I think the app is a grest idea. But would also be great if i trusted the gov, i dont. Already too much about me is being stolen so not willingly giving it.

[Patriot]

It’s not compulsory so just don’t do it...bit of a storm in teacup.

[Sergeant Hartman]

Interesting comments. Yeah i also did wonder how can the app work out distance.

Added to that there are plenty of viruses that have spread via open Bluetooth connections

[pomemax]

may be times are a changing things to come ?

The Covid app has detected that you are within 300 meters of a Dan Murphy's
there is a special on Tooheys extra dry , witch according to your bank statements and your recycling bin you seem to enjoy.
If you wish to change your booze preference please visit us at MYGOV .com 1300690123

sent as a message on Facebook

[Bill]

No - as has been already said, we cannot be “formally” tracked without court order or a warrant...this is different — you are giving up your whereabouts knowingly...it’s very different.

To those who say no dont click on this link

https://www.google.com/maps/timeline

[DaveZ]

To those who say no dont click on this link

https://www.google.com/maps/timeline

Not bad, but it has no idea of any places I've been since 2016