Policy
16.06.2020

Contact tracing apps in Europe - When one is better than many

One of the issues brought forth by the COVID-19 crisis is the need to track the infection chains in order to stop the disease from spreading. One of the simplest ways this can be done is via a smartphone app. However, this can bring about several privacy issues. Furthermore, unless a common protocol is taken up all over Europe allowing apps from different member states to be able to seamlessly communicate with each other, the discrepancies would render the national apps ineffective. Maarja Kask argues in her Policy Postion that member states need to decide on a single app protocol throughout Europe and that the European Commission should strongly back its uptake.

Image: CC Markus Winkler, Source: Unsplash