Apple says it wasn't told about UK contact tracing app issues, plans

The U.K.'s digital contact tracing plans are reportedly in "disarray" amid an apparent lack of communication with Apple and Google.

After initially rejecting the Apple-Google model for Exposure Notification, the National Health Service on Thursday said it had "agreed to join forces with Google and Apple, to bring the best bits of both systems together."

The NHS had reportedly been testing both its own proprietary system and one based on the Apple-Google API, but found problems with their own. Per the BBC, the NHS solution only detected 4% of nearby iPhones while logging 75% of close Android devices.

Apple's and Google's system, registered 99% of nearby Androids and iPhones, but had weaker distance calculations, the NHS said. Reportedly, the system could not differentiate between a device 1 meter away from one three meters away.

However, Apple said it is "difficult to understand" the distance issue claims from the NHS. The Cupertino tech giant told The Times that the NHS hadn't approached them about the issue, while pointing out that the Exposure Notification API was already in use in countries like Switzerland and Germany.

Apple also expressed surprise that the NHS was working on a new version of its contact tracing app that would "bring the best bits of both systems."

"We don't know what they mean by this hybrid model," Apple told The Times. "They haven't spoken to use about it."

The NHS's digital innovation arm, NHSX, didn't agree. According to a spokesperson, the company said it was working "closely" with the two Silicon Valley firms and have had "production meetings" with Apple to discuss future direction.

The Apple-Google Exposure Notification API is not an app. Instead, it's a framework that public health officials can use to build contact tracing platforms that are deeply integrated into iOS and Android but also take steps to protect user privacy.

After being announced in April, the system exited beta on May 20.

21 Comments

Rayz2016 8 Years · 6957 comments

About 4 years ago

Apple says they haven’t heard anything about it.

The UK government says they’re working closely with Apple and Google.

Well someone’s not telling the tru … yup, the government’s lying.

rob53 13 Years · 3312 comments

"the company said it was working "closely" with the two Silicon Valley firms and have had "production meetings" with Apple to discuss future direction." Just because the firms are in Silicon Valley, which has theoretical boundaries but it isn't a defined town, county or even valley unless you consider it Santa Clara Valley, doesn't mean the firms have anything to do with Apple or Google. Exactly who at Apple did they have production meetings with? Again, Apple and Google are only providing api's not any applications.

darkpaw 15 Years · 212 comments

After initially rejecting the Apple-Google model for Exposure Notification, the National Health Service on Thursday said it had "agreed to join forces with Google and Apple, to bring the best bits of both systems together."

The NHS had reportedly been testing both its own proprietary system and one based on the Apple-Google API, but found problems with their own. Per the BBC, the NHS solution only detected 4% of nearby iPhones while logging 75% of close Android devices.

Apple's and Google's system, registered 99% of nearby Androids and iPhones, but had weaker distance calculations, the NHS said.

However, Apple said it is "difficult to understand" the distance issue claims from the NHS.

Apple also expressed surprise that the NHS was working on a new version...
Oh, no, no, no. Please don't claim this is anything to do with the NHS. It's not. The NHS provides excellent free healthcare, it didn't develop this app.

This whole omnishambles is caused by the actions of NHSX, which is "a United Kingdom Government unit with responsibility for setting national policy and developing best practice for National Health Service (NHS) technology, digital and data, including data sharing and transparency." (Wikipedia)

The NHS has not been involved in this app; it was outsourced by the UK government to Pivotal VMWare.

Don't denigrate the NHS by claiming they had anything to do with this Matt Hancock-up.

mr lizard 15 Years · 354 comments

Surprise surprise, once again the UK government tries to go it alone and messes up. Then it claims it’s cooperating with others and those others claim otherwise. Just like how they claimed they’ve been consulting with the devolved nations during Brexit (they haven’t) and how they consulted with healthcare providers before suddenly announcing dental surgeries were to reopen (they hadn’t) and how they’d agreed the timetable for schools to reopen in England with local education boards (they hadn’t).

This app has been a disaster from the start. Thankfully we have no use for it in Scotland. This is England’s mess.

bonobob 13 Years · 395 comments

mr lizard said:

Surprise surprise, once again the UK government tries to go it alone and messes up. Then it claims it’s cooperating with others and those others claim otherwise. Just like how they claimed they’ve been consulting with the devolved nations during Brexit (they haven’t) and how they consulted with healthcare providers before suddenly announcing dental surgeries were to reopen (they hadn’t) and how they’d agreed the timetable for schools to reopen in England with local education boards (they hadn’t).
This app has been a disaster from the start. Thankfully we have no use for it in Scotland. This is England’s mess.

So when did Scotland opt out of the NHS? Somehow, I think this is your mess, too, whether you had a hand in it or not.