Jump to content

TraceTogether: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
FrankT (talk | contribs)
165 edits
→TraceTogether app: cite launch date and BlueTrace Protocol
FrankT (talk | contribs)
165 edits
Line 32: Line 32:


== TraceTogether Token ==
== TraceTogether Token ==
On 7 June 2020, Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative [[Vivian Balakrishnan]] announced that the government would be distributing a physical device, named TraceTogether Token, to augment the app.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=hermesauto|date=2020-06-08|title=Contact-tracing device will not track location; people can use TraceTogether if they prefer, says Vivian Balakrishnan|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/contact-tracing-device-will-not-track-location-and-people-can-use-tracetogether-if-they|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref> This was due to the low uptake of the app, which was lower than the optimal number of users required for the contact tracing system to work well, which was 75% of the population.<ref name=":2" /> With the issuance of the device, the government aimed to achieve at least 70% of the population using either the TraceTogether Token or app.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Explainer: How the TraceTogether token works, where to collect it|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-how-tracetogether-token-works-where-collect-it|access-date=2020-10-06|website=TODAYonline}}</ref>
On 7 June 2020, Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative [[Vivian Balakrishnan]] announced that the government would be distributing a physical device, named TraceTogether Token, to augment the app.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=hermesauto|date=2020-06-08|title=Contact-tracing device will not track location; people can use TraceTogether if they prefer, says Vivian Balakrishnan|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/contact-tracing-device-will-not-track-location-and-people-can-use-tracetogether-if-they|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref> The TraceTogether Token is designed primarily to support citizen who don't own a smartphone, mainly some elderly, young children or citizen with workplace restriction. The physical token helps to increase the optimal number of users required for the contact tracing system to work well, which was 75% of the population.<ref name=":2" /> With the issuance of the device, the government aimed to achieve at least 70% of the population using either the TraceTogether Token or app.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Explainer: How the TraceTogether token works, where to collect it|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-how-tracetogether-token-works-where-collect-it|access-date=2020-10-06|website=TODAYonline}}</ref>


Upon the announcement of the physical device, there was a public backlash against the physical device initiative, with a petition launched to protest against the development of the device over concerns about potential privacy issues.<ref>{{Cite web|last=hermes|date=2020-06-13|title=Getting buy-in for TraceTogether device and future Smart Nation initiatives|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/getting-buy-in-for-tracetogether-device-and-future-smart-nation-initiatives|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref> The [[Singapore People's Party]] also released a statement regarding the privacy concerns and about the potential abuse of the data.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=New TraceTogether token to have no GPS or internet connectivity to track user’s whereabouts: Vivian Balakrishnan|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/tracetogether-token-has-no-gps-or-internet-connectivity-track-users-whereabouts-vivian|access-date=2020-10-06|website=TODAYonline}}</ref>
Upon the announcement of the physical device, there was a public backlash against the physical device initiative, with a petition launched to protest against the development of the device over concerns about potential privacy issues.<ref>{{Cite web|last=hermes|date=2020-06-13|title=Getting buy-in for TraceTogether device and future Smart Nation initiatives|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/getting-buy-in-for-tracetogether-device-and-future-smart-nation-initiatives|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref> The [[Singapore People's Party]] also released a statement regarding the privacy concerns and about the potential abuse of the data.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=New TraceTogether token to have no GPS or internet connectivity to track user’s whereabouts: Vivian Balakrishnan|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/tracetogether-token-has-no-gps-or-internet-connectivity-track-users-whereabouts-vivian|access-date=2020-10-06|website=TODAYonline}}</ref>
Line 38: Line 38:
Similar to the app, the TraceTogether Token utilises BlueTooth to exchange signals with other TraceTogether Tokens or the mobile app. After encrypting the data of what devices or apps are near by, the device stores up to 25 days of information before deletion.<ref name=":3" /> The device is designed for those who have no smartphone, which consisted of about 5% of the population. It is designed to be waterproof and its battery life is about six months. There are no physical buttons on the device, and it has a green/red light indicator for battery life and/or to indicate a fault.<ref name=":3" /> The device does not have [[GPS]] functionality, and access to the data remains restricted among the civil service.<ref name=":4" />
Similar to the app, the TraceTogether Token utilises BlueTooth to exchange signals with other TraceTogether Tokens or the mobile app. After encrypting the data of what devices or apps are near by, the device stores up to 25 days of information before deletion.<ref name=":3" /> The device is designed for those who have no smartphone, which consisted of about 5% of the population. It is designed to be waterproof and its battery life is about six months. There are no physical buttons on the device, and it has a green/red light indicator for battery life and/or to indicate a fault.<ref name=":3" /> The device does not have [[GPS]] functionality, and access to the data remains restricted among the civil service.<ref name=":4" />


The physical device was made available for collection from 14 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=hermesauto|date=2020-06-08|title=Covid-19 contact tracing device will not be an electronic tag, to be rolled out in June|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/covid-19-contact-tracing-device-will-not-be-an-electronic-tag-to-be-rolled-out-in-june|access-date=2020-06-18|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tracetogether-tokens-to-be-distributed-free-to-all-spore-residents-from-sept-14 | title=TraceTogether tokens to be distributed free to all S'pore residents from Sept 14 | accessdate=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/how-to-collect-your-free-tracetogether-token-5-things-to-know-about-the-device | title=How to collect your free TraceTogether token: 5 things to know about the device | accessdate=25 September 2020}}</ref> {{As of|2020|October|25}}, more than 400,000 physical devices have been collected, and together with the TraceTogether app download numbers, this represented more than half of Singapore's population participating in the Government's contact tracing efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wong|first=Lester|date=2020-10-25|title=Over 400,000 TraceTogether tokens collected; S'pore at 50% mark for digital contact tracing participation|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/over-400000-tracetogether-tokens-collected-50-participation-in-digital-contact|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-26|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref>
The physical device was made available for collection from 14 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=hermesauto|date=2020-06-08|title=Covid-19 contact tracing device will not be an electronic tag, to be rolled out in June|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/covid-19-contact-tracing-device-will-not-be-an-electronic-tag-to-be-rolled-out-in-june|access-date=2020-06-18|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tracetogether-tokens-to-be-distributed-free-to-all-spore-residents-from-sept-14 | title=TraceTogether tokens to be distributed free to all S'pore residents from Sept 14 | accessdate=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/how-to-collect-your-free-tracetogether-token-5-things-to-know-about-the-device | title=How to collect your free TraceTogether token: 5 things to know about the device | accessdate=25 September 2020}}</ref> {{As of|2020|October|25}}, more than 400,000 physical devices have been collected, and together with the TraceTogether app download numbers, this represented more than half of Singapore's population participating in the Government's contact tracing efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wong|first=Lester|date=2020-10-25|title=Over 400,000 TraceTogether tokens collected; S'pore at 50% mark for digital contact tracing participation|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/over-400000-tracetogether-tokens-collected-50-participation-in-digital-contact|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-26|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref>


== Mandatory usage of TraceTogether ==
== Mandatory usage of TraceTogether ==

Revision as of 04:47, 8 December 2020

TraceTogether
Developer(s)Government Technology Agency
Stable release
2.3.10 / 7 October 2020
Repository
Written in
  • Kotlin (Android)
  • Swift (iOS)
Operating systemAndroid, iOS
Available inBengali, Burmese, Chinese, English, Hindi, Malay, Tamil, Thai
LicenceGPL-3.0
Websitewww.tracetogether.gov.sg

TraceTogether is a digital system which the Singaporean Government had implemented to allow for better contact tracing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. The system was initially made up of an app, by the same name, and was later supplemented by a physical token designed for those who may not own smartphone mainly elderly and children or those preferred not to use the app.

TraceTogether app

Main article: BlueTrace

Developed by Singapore's Government Technology Agency, the app was released on 20 March 2020[1]. The app utilised a custom protocol, BlueTrace, which allows for a distributed approach whereby participating devices exchange proximity information whenever an app detects another device with the TraceTogether app installed.[2][3][4]

To trace users the Ministry of Health (MOH) issues time sensitive anonymous temporary IDs that are used to identify the patient to all third parties. When two users of the app pass by, it uses the Bluetooth Relative Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) readings between devices across time to approximate the proximity and duration of an encounter between two users. This proximity and duration information is stored on one's phone for 25 days on a rolling basis.[2] Once a user tests positive for infection, the MOH works with them to map out their activity for past 14 days and requests the contact log. The user cannot legally refuse to share it.[5]

On initial setup, users register using their mobile number before choosing a profile and entering their personal details, which may include their NRIC. The user then enables relevant functions such as Bluetooth before leaving the app to run in the background.[6] The app can also be used for SafeEntry check-in.[7]

Downloading, installing and activating (registering) the app has been made mandatory for specific populations, such as migrant workers, by the government.[8][9]

The protocol, and reference app implementations of it, were also open sourced as BlueTrace and OpenTrace respectively.[10][11]

Effectiveness of the app

By 4 September 2020, about 2.4 million users had downloaded the app, with 1.4 million active users in August.[12] This is an increase from the 17% of the population who had downloaded the app in May 2020.[13] The usage of the app had been limited by the technical limitations of needing to have the application to run in the foreground on iOS devices, and battery drain,[14] but these problems had been reportedly addressed in the 2.1 version of the app released on 3 July 2020, and version 2.1.3 of 5 Aug added informational, work pass and SafeEntry QR features.[15]

TraceTogether Token

On 7 June 2020, Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan announced that the government would be distributing a physical device, named TraceTogether Token, to augment the app.[16] The TraceTogether Token is designed primarily to support citizen who don't own a smartphone, mainly some elderly, young children or citizen with workplace restriction. The physical token helps to increase the optimal number of users required for the contact tracing system to work well, which was 75% of the population.[16] With the issuance of the device, the government aimed to achieve at least 70% of the population using either the TraceTogether Token or app.[17]

Upon the announcement of the physical device, there was a public backlash against the physical device initiative, with a petition launched to protest against the development of the device over concerns about potential privacy issues.[18] The Singapore People's Party also released a statement regarding the privacy concerns and about the potential abuse of the data.[19]

Similar to the app, the TraceTogether Token utilises BlueTooth to exchange signals with other TraceTogether Tokens or the mobile app. After encrypting the data of what devices or apps are near by, the device stores up to 25 days of information before deletion.[17] The device is designed for those who have no smartphone, which consisted of about 5% of the population. It is designed to be waterproof and its battery life is about six months. There are no physical buttons on the device, and it has a green/red light indicator for battery life and/or to indicate a fault.[17] The device does not have GPS functionality, and access to the data remains restricted among the civil service.[19]

The physical device was made available for collection from 14 September 2020.[20][21][22] As of 25 October 2020, more than 400,000 physical devices have been collected, and together with the TraceTogether app download numbers, this represented more than half of Singapore's population participating in the Government's contact tracing efforts.[23]

Mandatory usage of TraceTogether

The usage of either the app or the token will be made mandatory by December 2020 for people attending potential high risk activities or large events, together with the usage of SafeEntry system.[24] Places where TraceTogether will be compulsory include cinemas, restaurants, workplaces, schools and shopping malls.[25]

According to the Singapore Government, this is in part to encourage the adoption of the app or the device, and at the same time answer the question of to whom a person could have passed the virus to through close contact at the event or activity.[24]

Privacy and data

TraceTogether is designed to preserve the privacy of users,[26] but in contrast to alternative approaches, is not anonymous as participants have to register the app using their phone number and national registration number or other evidence of residency. To safeguard participant's mutual privacy and ensuring their control over the data, Trace Together:[27]

  • Stores limited data. Data over 25 days old is deleted automatically. When signing up, a random User ID is generated and associated with the mobile number. Both the mobile number and User ID are stored in a secure government server. All data from or about other phones will not be accessed, unless the user has been in close contact with a COVID-19 case and is contacted by the contact tracing team.
  • Does not collect data about location via GPS or Wi-Fi, however fine-grained location tracking is possible using Bluetooth.[28] TraceTogether uses Bluetooth to approximate distance to other nearby phones running the same app.
  • Creates temporary IDs that change regularly.
  • Allows consent revoking via an email to a government agency. If a user opts out, their contact information is deleted from the MOH servers, meaning any log entries they appear can no longer be matched to them.[26][29]
  • Prompts disabling TraceTogether's functionality once contact tracing ceases.

References

  1. ^ "Singapore launches TraceTogether mobile app to boost COVID-19 contact tracing efforts". channelnewsasia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  2. ^ a b "How does TraceTogether work?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "BlueTrace Protocol". bluetrace.io. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  4. ^ Sharwood, Simon. "Singapore to open-source national Coronavirus encounter-tracing app and the Bluetooth research behind it". www.theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  5. ^ "Can I say no to uploading my TraceTogether data when contacted by the Ministry of Health?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  6. ^ "How do I set up TraceTogether?". TraceTogether FAQs. 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "How do I use the SafeEntry barcode feature within the TraceTogether app?". TraceTogether FAQs. 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "COVID-19: New app launched to help monitor and report migrant workers' health status". Retrieved 2020-06-05. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  9. ^ "All foreign workers have to download and activate TraceTogether app by June 19: MOM". Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  10. ^ Baharudin, Hariz (2020-04-10). "Coronavirus: S'pore contact tracing app now open-sourced, 1 in 5 here have downloaded". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Yu, Eileen. "Less than half in Singapore willing to share COVID-19 results with contact tracing tech". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  12. ^ "Low community prevalence of COVID-19, 0.03% of people with acute respiratory infection test positive: Gan Kim Yong". CNA. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Only 17% of Singapore population downloaded TraceTogether app, experts urge to make it mandatory". The Online Citizen. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  14. ^ "Singapore to launch TraceTogether Token device for COVID-19 contact tracing". MobiHealthNews. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  15. ^ "TraceTogether". apps.apple.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  16. ^ a b hermesauto (2020-06-08). "Contact-tracing device will not track location; people can use TraceTogether if they prefer, says Vivian Balakrishnan". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  17. ^ a b c "Explainer: How the TraceTogether token works, where to collect it". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  18. ^ hermes (2020-06-13). "Getting buy-in for TraceTogether device and future Smart Nation initiatives". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  19. ^ a b "New TraceTogether token to have no GPS or internet connectivity to track user's whereabouts: Vivian Balakrishnan". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  20. ^ hermesauto (2020-06-08). "Covid-19 contact tracing device will not be an electronic tag, to be rolled out in June". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  21. ^ "TraceTogether tokens to be distributed free to all S'pore residents from Sept 14". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  22. ^ "How to collect your free TraceTogether token: 5 things to know about the device". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  23. ^ Wong, Lester (2020-10-25). "Over 400,000 TraceTogether tokens collected; S'pore at 50% mark for digital contact tracing participation". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ a b "Use of TraceTogether app or token to be made compulsory for people attending large events, high-risk activities". TODAYonline. 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2020-10-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Wong, Lester (2020-10-20). "TraceTogether check-ins to be compulsory at public venues in S'pore by end-December". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ a b Bay, Jason; Kek, Joel; Tan, Alvin; Chai, Sheng Hau; Lai, Yongquan; Tan, Janice; Tang, Anh Quy. "BlueTrace: A privacy-preserving protocol for community-driven contact tracing across borders" (PDF). Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "TraceTogether Privacy Safeguards". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Mind the GAP: Security & Privacy Risks of ContactTracing Apps" (PDF). Arxiv.org. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  29. ^ "How can I stop sharing my data?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=TraceTogether&oldid=992986184"