to implement similar schemes owing to cost
or lack of support from citizens, with some
protesting over living in a “Big Brother” state.
In the United Kingdom, the government was
criticized for not introducing an emergency
warning system via smartphone alerts despite
being told to invest in the technology for
a number of years, and the government had
to work with telecommunications providers
to send out SMS messages which took several
days to arrive - with some not arriving at all.
By laying the foundations of a new centralized
global emergency warning hub, Google and
Apple could work with governments to help
deal with disasters, find missing people, assist
with rescues in remote locations, respond to
earthquakes, tsunamis, and terrorist attacks in
new ways, collecting data to protect emergency
responders and save lives. By building a
network for interactions that rely on time and
geolocation, Apple and Google’s API could
help us to save money and cut response times,
without compromising on our right to privacy.
In the months ahead, that system will be put to
the test in the fight against one of the greatest
threats to public health and the global economy
in history. It won’t be perfect, and there will be
teething issues as governments implement
their own technology on top, but it’s - without a
doubt - a breakthrough scheme and will reduce
the spread of the virus until a vaccine can be
found, helping us to restart our economies
and prevent further job losses in these highly
volatile times. We urge everyone to opt-in to
the program on a local level and play their own
small part. If we all come together, we can use
our smartphones to save lives!