Google Sued, Lawsuit Claims COVID-19 Contact Tracing Tool Exposes Data
Health IT Security
Jessica Davis
Two individuals who used California’s state public health COVID-19 contact tracing app have filed a lawsuit against its developer, Google, claiming the tool exposes user data and violated their privacy, among other allegations.
The Google-Apple Exposure Notification (GAEN) System was developed by the tech giants to support governments and public health agencies control the spread of the coronavirus. The tech leans on proximity data gathered from Bluetooth functions of mobile devices and alerts individuals of potential exposure.
At the time of the announcement in April 2020, Google provided a detailed plan of its privacy policies that included a requirement of explicit user consent, along with a list of frequently asked questions to reiterate the companies’ privacy policies.
Those policies included...