Apple and Google not told of UK plans to use their tech with NHS app

[Northerner]

Apple and Google did not know the UK government planned to build a “hybrid model” bringing their contact-tracing system together with the NHS app until Matt Hancock promised to do so on television.

While the California companies knew the UK was about to change course and begin using their tech, senior figures had no idea that the health secretary would claim that there were problems with their system in determining how far apart phones were. They also did not know that app chief Dido Harding would claim to have “developed new distance technology that will enhance the Apple/Google version”.

In a statement, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “NHSX [the health service’s technology unit] has been working with Google and Apple extensively … There is a commitment between the teams to work together to improve the distance measurement technology, which is integral to have a fully functioning contact-tracing app.”

Apple and Google not told of UK plans to use their tech with NHS app

Matt Hancock had doubts about US software’s accuracy in measuring proximity to potential coronavirus carriers

www.theguardian.com

Do the government believe that the only place you can announce things is at the press briefings rather than actually speaking to interested parties first? 🙄

 

[mikeyB]

Well, just ask teachers how much discussion and planning was made before the announcement of full school opening in September. (In England). None, apparently.

After Brexit there will be a border in the Irish Sea between NI and the remainder of the UK. Where are all the new customs offices and officers?

The English government doesn’t do forward planning for the new normal, it doesn’t want to give folk the impression that the next 5 years is going to be very different to the last 5 years.