TraceTogether

TraceTogether is an app released by the Singaporean Government that allows for digital contact tracing using the custom BlueTrace protocol.[1][2] The app was developed by the Government Technology Agency and released on 20 March 2020. Since the release of the app, 17% of the population have downloaded it, meaning over 900,000 downloads.[3] Downloading, installing and activating (registering) the app has been made mandatory for a significant part of the population by the government,[4][5] and government employees have been pressed into installing the app, with some agencies claiming that it was mandatory. The app and protocol were also open sourced as OpenTrace and BlueTrace respectively.

TraceTogether
Screenshot
Developer(s)Government Technology Agency
Repository
Written in
  • Kotlin (Android)
  • Swift (iOS)
Operating systemAndroid, iOS
LicenceGPL-3.0
Websitewww.tracetogether.gov.sg

Description
Main article: BlueTrace

TraceTogether adopts a distributed approach where participating devices exchange proximity information whenever an app detects another device with the TraceTogether app installed.[6]

To trace users the Ministry of Health (MOH) issues time sensitive anonymous temporary IDs that are used to identify the patient to all third parties. When two users of the app pass by, it uses the Bluetooth Relative Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) readings between devices across time to approximate the proximity and duration of an encounter between two users. This proximity and duration information is stored on one's phone for 21 days on a rolling basis.[6] Once a user tests positive for infection, the MOH works with them to map out their activity for past 14 days and requests the contact log. The user cannot legally refuse to share it.[7]

Effectiveness of the app

However in May 2020, there are only 17% of the population who have installed the application, which limited the usefulness of the application.[8] The usage of the app is limited by technical limitations such as needing to have the application to run in the foreground on iOS devices, and battery drain.[9] The authorities are issuing wearable devices, TraceTogether Token, as a complementary addition to the application end of June 2020.[10]

Usage

TraceTogether is convenient and easy-to-use. Simply download the app, enter the phone number (Step 1), grant the app permissions (Step 2), turn on Bluetooth (Step 3) and leave the app running (Step 4).[11]

How to use the TraceTogether app for the first time

Privacy and Data

TraceTogether is explicitly designed to preserve the privacy of users from each other,[12] but in contrast to alternative approaches favoured in other countries, is not anonymous as participants have to register the app using their phone number and national registration number. In order to safeguard participant's mutual privacy and ensuring their control over the data Trace Together:[13]

  • Stores limited data. When signing up, a random User ID is generated and associated with the mobile number. Both the mobile number and User ID are stored in a secure server, and never shown to the public. The data will never be accessed, unless the user has been in close contact with a COVID-19 case and is contacted by the contact tracing team.
  • Does not collect data about GPS location. TraceTogether uses Bluetooth to approximate your distance to other phones running the same app.
  • Creates temporary IDs that change regularly. The lack of a persistent identifier means it is impossible for third parties to identify or track users.
  • Allows consent revoking at any time. If a user opts out, their contact information is deleted from the MOH, meaning any log entries they appear in can no longer be matched with them.[12] Users are only able to request opt-out via an email to a government agency.[14]
  • Prompts disabling TraceTogether's functionality once contact tracing ceases.

References
  1. "Home". bluetrace.io. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  2. Sharwood, Simon; at 01:58, APAC Editor 26 Mar 2020. "Singapore to open-source national Coronavirus encounter-tracing app and the Bluetooth research behind it". www.theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  3. "TraceTogether - Google Play Store". Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  4. "COVID-19: New app launched to help monitor and report migrant workers' health status". Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  5. "All foreign workers have to download and activate TraceTogether app by June 19: MOM". Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  6. "How does TraceTogether work?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. "Can I say no to uploading my TraceTogether data when contacted by the Ministry of Health?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  8. "Only 17% of Singapore population downloaded TraceTogether app, experts urge to make it mandatory". The Online Citizen. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  9. "Singapore to launch TraceTogether Token device for COVID-19 contact tracing". MobiHealthNews. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  10. hermesauto (2020-06-08). "Covid-19 contact tracing device will not be an electronic tag, to be rolled out in June". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  11. "Help speed up contact tracing with TraceTogether". www.gov.sg. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  12. Jason Bay, Joel Kek, Alvin Tan, Chai Sheng Hau, Lai Yongquan, Janice Tan, Tang Anh Quy. "BlueTrace: A privacy-preserving protocol for community-driven contact tracing across borders" (PDF). Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-04-12.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "TraceTogether Privacy Safeguards". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  14. "How can I stop sharing my data?". Government Technology Agency. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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