Harry Elias Partnership Head, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection KK Lim commented in the Straits Times article titled “Contact tracing to get a boost with distribution of new tokens”. The article was first published on 12 September 2020.
Contact tracing to get a boost with distribution of new tokens
From Monday, the contact tracing process will get a speed boost, with the start of the nationwide distribution of the Singapore-made TraceTogether tokens.
These free tokens are more user-friendly for those unfamiliar with smartphones, and will also help overcome several limitations of the app, said experts in technology and public health.
Below are excerpts from the article which feature comments by KK:
For one thing, the token is independent of any mobile platform, noted Mr K.K. Lim, head of cyber security, privacy and data protection at Harry Elias Partnership.
Now, users of certain mobile phones – such as iPhones running on older versions of Apple’s operating system or Huawei phones without access to Google’s Play Store – cannot run the app.
Another plus point is that the token is useful for seniors who cannot afford a smartphone or don’t know how to use one, as well as children who may not own such a phone.
The tokens help these groups to come on board the TraceTogether programme, Mr Lim said.
Neither the app nor the token captures data on the user’s geographical whereabouts. Instead, they work by exchanging short-distance Bluetooth signals with other apps or tokens nearby. This proximity data is encrypted and stored for 25 days before being automatically deleted.
But for the tokens to succeed, people have to use them, said experts interviewed. “Just like wearing a mask, you’ve got to form the habit of carrying the token when you go out,” Mr Lim said.
Full article can be found here.
Source: The Straits Times
Author: Linette Lai, Political Correspondent