Have you downloaded the app yet? Installed it?

Or are you distrustful of this latest bit of modern technology? Big Brother really is watching.

When the COVID-19 phone app was first announced, I had my doubts. The idea seemed intriguing, an application that would warn you if you were exposed for 15 minutes or longer to anyone with the COVID-19 virus. Who, in the interest of public health, wouldn’t want that?

Me for one. And I am in favor of and follow the various practices that have become 2020: social distancing, a face mask in public and frequent hand washing. But this little piece of contact-tracing software worries me.

It isn’t just the built-in ineffectiveness. In order for it to work, infected people must be using it. But it isn’t compulsory, so there’s no guarantee they will.

Even more so, I have privacy concerns. The government assures us the data is all completely anonymous. No personal identifiers are available.

I am not a conspiracy theorist. I don’t think government is out to get me. But I don’t necessarily trust software designers either. I’ve had so many issues with technology that didn’t work as designed. Nor do I automatically trust government.

Given the voluntary nature of the app, I’m not sure it has much benefit – and may give people a false sense of security. While I have nothing to hide, I’m not sure I want to hand government yet another method of tracking me.

I assume they can already track my phone if they want, though legally a warrant would be required. There’s very little privacy left in this world; I’m not sure I want to voluntarily surrender mine in this case.

How do you feel about it? The few people I have spoken to in Canada all have the app and are using it. I haven’t asked any of my German friends, so I have no idea what they think of it.

Am I being paranoid? Or prudent? Where do we draw the line between freedom and responsibility?

What are your thoughts.