The attorneys general of D.C., Maryland and Virginia have expressed concern about coronavirus contact-tracing apps that may violate the privacy of citizens and have written letters to the CEOs of Apple and Google regarding the issue.
The information has proven valuable to hospitals and universities by providing data to public health authorities but unverified apps, many of which are free, may want to profit off of such material, the attorneys general said.
“Folks who are running the apps that you’re downloading are getting all kinds of information about you that you assume is going to be private,” said Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, WTOP reported Wednesday. “Where you are, who you are talking to, what you’re doing.”
In the letters, the attorneys general requested that contact tracing and exposure notification tools be connected to public health authorities on the local, state and federal levels.