Comments on: NHS Covid-19 contact-tracing app launched in England and Wales

By: Charles Allen

Charles Allen — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:52:38 +0000

In reply to AF.

https://github.com/nhsx/covid-19-app-android-ag-public
https://github.com/nhsx/covid-19-app-ios-ag-public
https://github.com/nhsx/covid19-app-system-public

By: S Smith

S Smith — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:53:16 +0000

In reply to GS.

Thanks for your response GS.
Yes it did say Location Services.
By refusing the permission, the app could not be set up.
By granting the permission, the GPS was turned on on the phone.

Not sure what you mean by ‘some stores’ but ultimately the app should not need to know where I am to run the basic function of shaking hands with phones around me and timing how long they are in touch. It’s not like it’s iPlayer which checks your IP to make sure you’re in the UK, for copyright purposes.
Other uses I have had with the Bluetooth have not needed to know where I am, just if I am not close enough to the other device the connection would drop.

I am not anti-app, in fact was and still am very pro something like this, but it needs to be 100% transparent and minimally intrusive and definitely not have the ability to be abused further down the line or by other organisations’ apps.

By: GS

GS — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:12:01 +0000

In reply to S Smith. Did it say GPS needed to be on or was it that it required access to "Location Services" ? This is the permission which grants access to the Bluetooth services that the App uses. I believe the logic behind this is that some stores use Bluetooth beacons to work out where you are.

By: S Smith

S Smith — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 15:37:28 +0000

Your report is incorrect. My wife is being forced by her employer to install the app. I have just helped her and it requires your GPS to be turned ON. Or you cannot set up the app.
Until someone can explain why it needs GPS when it is only pinging nearby phones my phone won’t be infected with it. By having GPS on it is another drain on your battery, but more importantly it is a far more accurate way for other apps on your phone to know your location.
If it is so desperate to know your rough location, nearby mobile mast data would be more than sufficient and would not be opening us up to government sponsored corporate tracking.

By: Davi Morris

Davi Morris — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:30:21 +0000

The criteria for “contact” seem vague. On one report, it was stated that users would be advised if they came into close contact with someone for more than 15 minutes who had tested positive. Other reports do not mention the 15 minute criterion. Which is correct?

By: AF

AF — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:21:48 +0000

In reply to PM. Same here, who built the app, where can we find the source code?

By: PM

PM — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:14:43 +0000

In reply to James Hagans. That's what I would like to know too, not found the info yet. Why so secretive?

By: mr simon c clements

mr simon c clements — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 21:28:14 +0000

Set up app,all working well,easy to set up,if you read the instructions and take your time

By: Stephen Boldan

Stephen Boldan — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:10:51 +0000

In reply to Kevin Goggins. Having same problem

By: Kevin Goggins

Kevin Goggins — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 01:40:18 +0000

It keeps saying that my postcode is invalid