Tag: Bluetooth

Apple and Google join forces during Corona Pandemic

17. April 2020

Apple and Google two of the biggest internet giants announced that they will partner on the development of a COVD-19 contact tracing technology.

According to a statement, both of them published on their blogs, aim of the partnership is to develop an App respectively a technical tool which should support the protection of people and to help combat the virus. Furthermore, the tracing technology should help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus.

Apple and Google want to develop a Bluetooth technology which can be used on iOS and Android devices as well as that it can be implemented in Apps of other providers via an API (Application Programming Interface) – which should be published in May.

The tracing technology, using the Bluetooth function and encryption, is designed to detect the distance between two devices in order to identify potentially vulnerable people who have been in close contact with a person tested positive for corona. Therefore, the devices should exchange temporarily ID numbers. In case, one person is tested positive he or she should change the status in the used app in order to inform all persons to which the data subject had contact in the past two weeks.

Both, Apple and Google, ensure that they take data protection requirements seriously. According to the provided information the data should firstly be stored on the respective devices and deleted automatically after two weeks. The data should only be uploaded to a server after change of status to tested positive and obtaining consent of the data subject. The exchanged ID numbers are planned to be uploaded to a list anonymously. In order to increase trust, it is planned to publish the software source codes. This would allow everyone to understand how the data is handled. In addition, this is to ensure that no data will be used for advertising purposes.

Talking doll deemed to be “concealed listening device”

21. February 2017

The German Federal Network Agency took the “My friend Cayla” doll off the market due to privacy concerns. The doll, which is equipped with a microphone, can answer children’s questions by the use of the Internet. Thus it was deemed as “concealed listening device” in accordance with section 90 Telecommunications Act (“Telekommunikationsgesetz”).

The Agency stated that the doll could be used for recording and transmitting children’s conversations without parents’ knowledge. Besides, it shall be possible to listen to children’s conversations by connecting with the doll via an unsecured radio link (Bluetooth).

After complaints were also filed in the US, the Federal Trade Commission decided not to take any action.

Meanwhile, the doll’s German distributor stated that “My friend Cayla” is not an espionage device and that they will challenge the Agency’s decision in court.