Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: China struggles to stem spread of cases beyond capitalTrump weighs $1 trillion to spur economy out of virus slumpGermany’s Covid tracing app goes live The privacy holes in virus apps Mobile phone apps designed to track the spread of the coronavirus and alert users to possible infections have always had privacy advocates a little on edge. While authorities tout contact-tracing apps as a helpful way to recall interactions between people that could have passed on the virus, privacy defenders have cautioned against government access to vast amounts of sensitive data.In a report Tuesday, human rights group Amnesty International called out some of the worst offenders. It found that Bahrain’s BeAware Bahrain, Kuwait’s Shlonik and Norway’s Smittestopp apps stood out as among “the most alarming mass surveillance tools” it had assessed.  A C-19 Covid symptom tracker in April in London. Photographer: Getty Images/Getty Images Europe In an analysis of 11 contact-tracing apps across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Amnesty said the three apps in particular “put the privacy and security of hundreds of thousands of people at risk” because they tracked users’ locations in near real-time by frequently uploading GPS coordinates to a central government server.That location information in turn could easily be linked to individuals, Amnesty said, because users in Bahrain and Kuwait are required to sign up to the app with their national ID number, while Norway requires registration with a valid phone number. Location data is some of the most sensitive information that can be collected about someone. It not only reveals where someone lives but could divulge who they might have spent the night with or other deeply personal information like whether they visited an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. For Amnesty, contact tracing apps can only be effective if people are confident their privacy is protected. That’s why it urged the three governments to immediately pull their apps. Norwegian data protection authorities have already clamped down. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health on Monday halted use of their app and deleted data it had collected after a warning by the privacy watchdog.—Natalia Drozdiak Today’s Podcast Welcome to the Second Wave A surge in Texas, Florida and other states has public-health officials worried. It is clear Americans are moving around and interacting more. Emma Court has been covering what is increasingly looking like a second wave of the virus.  Today’s event: Can the world’s medical researchers, scientists and public policy advocates work in tandem to outwit the virus and health challenges that now threaten mankind? Join us today at 10 a.m. EDT as we discuss how to overcome these crises. See the full lineup and register here. On June 18th, hear from senior leaders including Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia of Snoop and Johann Butting of Slack on how they bolstered digital offerings and positioned for the pandemic amid a surging need for digital technologies. Get details and register here. What you should read Cities Still Haven’t Lost Their Allure The pandemic hasn’t diminished the appeal of urban living for some. FDA Pulls Approval for Drugs Trump Touted Hydroxychloroquine unlikely to be effective against Covid, agency says. Second U.K. Covid Vaccine in Human Tests Approach may allow hundreds of millions of doses to be produced quickly. Trump Rally Defies Concerns of Virus Spread President has said anti-racism protests show he can safely resume rallies. Premier League Returns Amid Pandemic Amazon gets another bite at English soccer as matches resume this week. Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022 |
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