Users report that Google installed pandemic app without authorization

Shortly after Covid-19 was officially declared pandemic — that is, become a global risk — Google and Apple they made a partnership to develop a contact tracing system that were used by governments for health purposes. Several apps for this purpose are already available, but users are complaining that the company is installing them without permission.

The state of in Massachusetts is an example, with local residents registering complaints on the Play Store about this. Low ratings are being left on the app that Google installed due to the pandemic, supposedly without users' authorization. Many also say that the app does not even appear with an exclusive icon, appearing to be a function integrated into the system.

Google already detailed how the contact tracing system works — making it clear that it would leave each user with an identifier without personalization. The tool would be intended to provide contagion and tracking maps for public health authorities, and even inform the user if they ended up being exposed to another person with a confirmed diagnosis. Even so, there are those who choose not to get involved with the feature, hence the complaints about Google installing the app to contain the pandemic without authorization.

Google's answer

In its defense, the company claims that the app is only downloaded automatically after the user activates the “exposure notifications” option in the Android system. With this done, Google confirms that it can install apps aimed at this purpose depending on each user's region. Regarding the lack of specific icons for the apps, this is because some of the tools work integrated into the Google app. However, since downloads occur via the Play Store, the consumer can still check them as standalone installations from the store or in the storage settings in the cell phone settings.

It is worth remembering that Brazil also has a tool for this purpose, available to Android e iOS, the Coronavirus SUS, but the apps have been little publicized. These tools need to use Bluetooth to work, and anyone with exposure notifications enabled receives a biweekly alert that the function is activated on their device.

Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Android Police