Virus tracing app raises privacy concerns in India

Virus tracing app raises privacy concerns in India

NEW DELHI (AP) - As India enters an extended coronavirus lockdown, the government is actively pursuing contact tracing to help control infections.. In April, India launched the Aarogya Setu app, which helps people identify whether they have been near someone who tested positive for the virus.. What is more alarming, experts say, are sweeping orders that make the use of the app mandatory for many Indians.. Millions of Indians, many of them oblivious of any privacy concerns, have enthusiastically downloaded the app at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urging.. Abhishek Singh, the chief executive of MyGovIndia, which developed Aarogya Setu, said the app "will not reveal anyone's personal details" and the "data in the app is completely secure.. India is not new to privacy violations and data breaches.. The app, experts say, presents similar concerns but on a much larger scale.. Apart from the privacy concerns, there is little evidence that the app will be effective without widespread virus testing, which India lacks.. As India enters an extended coronavirus lockdown, the government is fervently pursuing contact tracing to control infections..