[LINK] Question about the app: must location be turned on in order for Bluetooth to work?

[Roger Clarke]

On 4/5/20 10:29 pm, jwhit at internode.on.net wrote:
> I found it as a reprint in the Melbpc Update today. Here's the link
> from The Conversation. The quote I shared is about 1/3 down the page.
> https://theconversation.com/covidsafe-tracking-app-reviewed-the-government-delivers-on-data-security-but-other-issues-remain-137249

That's from Mon 27 April, 8 days ago, and seems to have been written 
prettymuch form the government announcement.

Given the time to get a paper into The Conversation, the author would 
have had no time to do any careful checking of device functionality.

It's no surprise that his first attempts to formulate an explanation of 
what did and didn't work were imprecise.  It's still not easy, in part 
because the government failed to disclose design documents, and has 
failed to fulfil its own undertaking to disclose source-code, forcing 
people to use reverse-engineering techniques.

There are better sources now, and the one fromn 27 April is best treated 
as ephemera / early warning.

Re privacy aspects as well, Graham Greenleaf has warned about a lot of 
very poor analysis in some of the many The Conversation pieces.

Their quality assurance appears to be pretty light-on.  The good 
articles are very good, but it's often necessary to check who wrote an 
article before depending on it.


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Clarke"
> To:
> Cc:
> Sent:Mon, 4 May 2020 22:00:28 +1000
> Subject:Re: [LINK] Question about the app: must location be turned on
> in order for Bluetooth to work?
> 
>   On 4/5/20 5:41 pm, jwhit at internode.on.net wrote:
>   > I just read a CQU review of the App where the writer said:
>   > "In regards to enabling location permissions, it’s important to
> note
>   > this isn’t the same as turning on-location services. Location
>   > permissions must be enabled for COVIDSafe to access Bluetooth on
>   > Androidand Apple devices."
>   > So, despite the app not collecting location data, other apps that
>   > would like it but you don't want them to will be?
> 
>   That sounds inaccurate. As in 'partly right, but not as written'.
> 
>   Can you point to the source?
> 
>   Most posters have been pretty careful and precise up until now.
> 
>   Misinformation from sceptics *as well as* enthusiasts won't help
> anyone.
> 
>   --
>   Roger Clarke mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
>   T: +61 2 6288 6916 http://www.xamax.com.au http://www.rogerclarke.com
> 
>   Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
> 
>   Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law University of N.S.W.
>   Visiting Professor in Computer Science Australian National University
>   _______________________________________________
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> 


-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA 

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University