Governmental agencies are considering ways to use technology to augment contact tracing to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Apple and Google have been working together on a digital contact tracing tool and it likely will be shared out soon.

We have many questions and concerns with digital contact tracing. While it’s possible that Apple and Google can address these issues in a way that doesn’t violate public privacy, there is one issue we must oppose no matter what: location tracking.

States like Utah and North Dakota are already using digital contact tracing apps and are pushing for Apple and Google to add GPS location tracking in their contact tracing app. This would mean that the physical location of everyone participating in contact tracing could be tracked at all times—a massive expansion of government surveillance, an invasion of privacy, and not necessary for limiting the spread of the virus.

Though proponents say that the location data would be anonymized, we’ve seen how easy it is to de-anonymize location data. Location tracking is also inaccurate—it can’t tell if you’re within 6 feet of someone, or even on different sides of a wall, so it can’t actually tell who an infected person has been close to.

So far, Apple and Google have said that they won’t include location tracking in their app, but we need to make sure they don’t cave, and stop other app developers from including location tracking.

As we continue to search for ways to address this pandemic, we should focus attention on things we know work—like traditional forms of contact tracing directed by public health experts. We should not implement any technological solution until it’s been proven to work, because we know that once our governments start tracking us they won’t want to stop.

Tell you lawmakers: GPS tracking should not be included in any form of contact tracing in response to COVID-19.

Petition Message:

GPS tracking should not be included in any system of contact tracing. Not only is it incredibly invasive, it’s not accurate enough to effectively track contact. I urge you to protect our safety and privacy by opposing any efforts to include GPS tracking in tools developed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.