The COVIDSafe App: a Question of Trust

The Pearcey Foundation today announced the publication of a discussion paper in response to the launch of the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app.

The paper, ‘The COVIDSafe App: A Question of Trust’ welcomes any initiatives to bring about a speedy end to the coronavirus crisis, discussing the three key factors that will determine the success of the app: trust, effectiveness and education.

While the Pearcey Foundation believes all three issues are being addressed, more still needs to be done to ensure the public is fully informed and that all safeguards remain in place.

“There are some concerns that the app will not be downloaded because of privacy considerations. We believe these fears are largely unfounded and that the Government has sufficient measures in place to ensure the security of the application and the privacy of the data. It is a tracing app, not a tracking app,” said Wayne Fitzsimmons OAM, Chair, Pearcey Foundation.

This Pearcey Foundation paper is based on the collective views of a group of senior Australian ICT specialists, all of whom are of the belief that the COVIDSafe app will be effective if widely implemented, that the government is doing enough to ensure its integrity, and that it is an important new weapon in the fight against the spread of the virus.

This paper aims to show what the Government, and we as individuals, need to do to ensure the success of the COVIDSafe app.

A full copy of the paper can be viewed or downloaded at https://pearcey.org.au/covidsafe-app-paper.

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About the Pearcey Foundation
The Pearcey Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and profession. It was created in the memory of one of the greatest pioneers of the Australian ICT industry, Dr Trevor Pearcey. By celebrating the heroes in our industry, past, present and future, the Foundation is looking to attract and encourage young Australians into this most exciting of global high technology sectors of our nation.

Web: www.pearcey.org.au

Twitter: @Pearcey_org #PearceyFoundation

LinkedIn: Pearcey Foundation #PearceyFoundation