#aarogya setu app data

[thetechinsiderblogs]

New AI Technology helps India emerge as the World’s Technology

Forget chai and samosas; India is serving up a sizzling dish, and that is none other than the new AI technology! Yes, the land of vibrant colors and ancient wisdom is fast becoming a tech hotspot, and new AI technology is the secret ingredient. Brace yourself for a journey through India’s AI adventure, where algorithms dance with chai masala and robots dream in Bollywood beats.

Table of Contents

Tech Tiffin: A Feast of Talent and Innovation

Spice Route to Success: A Blend of Policy and Investment

Curry-fying Every Corner: New AI Technology Across Industries

Challenges with a Chutney of Solutions

The Future is Masala-fied: A Taste of What’s to Come

Conclusion

Tech Tiffin: A Feast of Talent and Innovation

India has the brains, and boy, does it use them! India has the third-largest pool of IT skills in the world when compared to the IT hub of the world. This makes India an ideal breeding ground for new AI technology. Engineers create algorithms like magic tricks, while startups pop up like chai stalls around the neighborhood, each bursting with creative ideas. From healthcare solutions identifying diseases with eagle-eyed precision to chatbots that speak the native language like your bestie. The new AI technology is brewing up a storm of technological advancement in India.

Spice Route to Success: A Blend of Policy and Investment

India is not simply putting turmeric into the AI pot and hoping for the best. The government has a Michelin-star recipe, with initiatives inspiring the business hub of India such as the National AI Strategy and the Digital India program adding texture. On one hand, these initiatives create a conducive atmosphere for new AI technology to thrive, and on the other, the investors—they’re like foodies, pouring in billions to sustain this new AI technology-driven feast. What was the result? A hot ecosystem of hybrid workforce where startups thrive and ideas get funded faster than you can say “baingan bharta!“

Curry-fying Every Corner: New AI Technology Across Industries

Not to place all its eggs in one basket, the new AI technology is altering the role of IT in every sector. From Mumbai’s hectic streets to Kerala’s tranquil pastures. For instance, farmers employ AI-powered drones to monitor crops, physicians use AI algorithms to diagnose ailments, and even the old game of cricket is given a technological boost with AI-powered coaching. It’s like a delectable thali, with each dish featuring its own distinct AI flavor, isn’t it?

Challenges with a Chutney of Solutions

Of all, no technological journey concludes without a few mishaps, and the technological advancement in India is no exception. Data privacy problems, moral dilemmas, and a shortage of skilled workers are among the obstacles confronting India’s technology growth. But, just as a skilled cook deals with tricky spices, India has a chutney of remedies in its arsenal. Robust data protection rules, code of conduct frameworks, and measures to close the skill gap are keeping the AI flame burning resiliently.

Indian technology is backed by government funding. The Aarogya Setu app, built by a government-backed consortium, is an AI-powered app that tracks COVID-19 contacts, has over 200 million users, and has contributed significantly to India’s pandemic management. Another such instance is eNAM, the National Agriculture Market, a government-initiated platform that uses AI to connect farmers directly with buyers, eliminating middlemen and improving farmer incomes by an average of 25%.

The Future is Masala-fied: A Taste of What’s to Come

India’s AI adventure is merely at its inception. In the past, India has used AI to track COVID—the infamous Arogya Setu app. eNAM is another AI revolution that transformed agriculture. Among the budding startups is Niramai Health, which uses AI-powered thermal imaging to detect breast cancer early, reaching 5 million women in rural areas without access to conventional mammograms. CropIn is another ag-tech company that combines AI and satellite imagery to provide personalized farm advice, increasing crop yields by up to 30% for millions of farmers across India. 

From Jugaad to Juggernaut, India’s AI is joining hands with global technology. India-US Joint AI Development Centre, established in 2023, focuses on developing AI solutions for healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management, with potential benefits for both nations. Then there is the India-UK AI BRIDGE Program, which fosters joint research projects between Indian and UK researchers, leading to breakthroughs in areas like climate change mitigation and intelligent urban planning.

The future seems as promising as a plate of pani puri. Consider AI-powered smart cities that regulate traffic and pollution, individualized education suited to each student’s needs, and even robots that do bhangra with you!

Conclusion

As they say, the sky’s the limit, and India has the spice to make them all sizzle. So, the next time you envisage India, acknowledge that it is more than just temples and tigers. It’s also a country where AI aspirations simmer and the scent of invention permeates the air. Prepare for a world where chai meets code as India leads the way in serving up the future, one artificially intelligent creation at a time! I hope you had a fun and informative time learning about the latest technological exploits of India. Stay tuned as we bring in more exciting tech news at The Tech Insider.

[healthcaretechnologynews]

Digital Health Transformation: The Future of PHR Market in India.

The Personal Health Record (PHR) market in India is still in its nascent stage. However, with the growing adoption of digital health technologies, the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Write to us at enquire@grgonline.com Learn how GRG Health is helping clients gather more in-depth market-level information on such topics.

The adoption rate of PHR in both the government and private sectors is relatively low due to limited awareness and a lack of infrastructure. While some private healthcare providers have started offering PHR services to their patients, the adoption rate among the general population is still low.

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to promote digital health technologies in the country, including the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), which aims to create a digital health ecosystem in India. The NDHM aims to create a digital health infrastructure in India, including the creation of personal health IDs for individuals, electronic health records, and telemedicine services. Ayushman Bharat is another health insurance scheme launched by the Indian government that aims to provide free healthcare services to the economically weaker sections of society. The scheme includes the provision of digital health records for beneficiaries.

The National Health Stack is a set of building blocks for creating a digital health ecosystem in India. It includes the creation of standardized health data, health registries, and interoperable systems.

In the next five years, the PHR market in India is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing adoption of digital health technologies and government initiatives to promote digital health. With the implementation of the NDHM and other digital health initiatives, more healthcare providers are expected to adopt PHR services, and the general population is likely to become more aware of the benefits of digital health records.

The benefits of PHR are significant, as it provides patients with easy access to their medical information, helps healthcare providers make better-informed decisions, and reduces the risk of medical errors. With the increasing adoption of digital health technologies, the PHR market in India is expected to play a crucial role in the digital transformation of healthcare in the country. Some of the health applications that patients can use to scan the QR code include ABHA App, Aarogya Setu App, EkaCare, DRiefcase, and Bajaj Health. It's good to see healthcare organizations using digital technologies to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients. By having access to their health records on their phone, patients can stay informed about their health and make better decisions about their care.

In conclusion, while the PHR market in India is still in its nascent stage, government initiatives and growing awareness among the population are expected to drive its growth significantly in the coming years. The adoption of PHR is crucial for the digital transformation of healthcare in India and will play a significant role in improving the overall quality of healthcare services in the country.

Visit our website now: https://www.grgonline.com/

[healthcaretoday1]

Digital Health Transformation: The Future of PHR Market in India.

The Personal Health Record (PHR) market in India is still in its nascent stage. However, with the growing adoption of digital health technologies, the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Read more: https://www.grgonline.com/post/digital-health-transformation-the-future-of-phr-market-in-india

The adoption rate of PHR in both the government and private sectors is relatively low due to limited awareness and a lack of infrastructure. While some private healthcare providers have started offering PHR services to their patients, the adoption rate among the general population is still low.

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to promote digital health technologies in the country, including the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), which aims to create a digital health ecosystem in India. The NDHM aims to create a digital health infrastructure in India, including the creation of personal health IDs for individuals, electronic health records, and telemedicine services. Ayushman Bharat is another health insurance scheme launched by the Indian government that aims to provide free healthcare services to the economically weaker sections of society. The scheme includes the provision of digital health records for beneficiaries.

The National Health Stack is a set of building blocks for creating a digital health ecosystem in India. It includes the creation of standardized health data, health registries, and interoperable systems.

In the next five years, the PHR market in India is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing adoption of digital health technologies and government initiatives to promote digital health. With the implementation of the NDHM and other digital health initiatives, more healthcare providers are expected to adopt PHR services, and the general population is likely to become more aware of the benefits of digital health records.

The benefits of PHR are significant, as it provides patients with easy access to their medical information, helps healthcare providers make better-informed decisions, and reduces the risk of medical errors. With the increasing adoption of digital health technologies, the PHR market in India is expected to play a crucial role in the digital transformation of healthcare in the country. Some of the health applications that patients can use to scan the QR code include ABHA App, Aarogya Setu App, EkaCare, DRiefcase, and Bajaj Health. It's good to see healthcare organizations using digital technologies to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients. By having access to their health records on their phone, patients can stay informed about their health and make better decisions about their care.

In conclusion, while the PHR market in India is still in its nascent stage, government initiatives and growing awareness among the population are expected to drive its growth significantly in the coming years. The adoption of PHR is crucial for the digital transformation of healthcare in India and will play a significant role in improving the overall quality of healthcare services in the country.

[jsbmarketresearch01]

The Center Tells Lok Sabha that Aarogya Setu Contact Tracing Data is Now Deleted

On Wednesday, the Centre said that they have deleted all the contact-tracing data, which were earlier collected through the Aarogya Setu mobile application. This application software was used to track and locate potential COVID-19 cases during the pandemic time. The application used GPS and Bluetooth for the users who may have come in contact with the people who tested positive for the coronavirus infection. A lot has been said about the security implications over the last three years for the Aarogya Setu App.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS for electronics and information technology has told the Lok Sabha that the contact tracing feature in accordance with the respective provisions and protocols, on the Aarogya Setu mobile applications are not discontinued. So, all the contact data collected on the app is not deleted. He also said that secure access to data was given to certain officials only.

Though people still use it as the app is active, the government has said that the feature of contact tracing, for which security concerns were always rife among critics, is no more functioning, and the data has been removed. Chandrasekhar said that approved officials of the State Health Departments, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, District Civil Surgeons, and National and State Disaster Management Authorities were able to access the data securely.

This data is in regards to that collected from the Aarogya Setu. Former intelligence officials and cybersecurity experts have earlier spoken about the data breach possibility, which may affect millions of Indians. However, Indian government officials have said that these concerns can be rested as there is no such threat. Because of lockdowns imposed in 2020, it was mandatory by the Aarogya Setu for the central government employees to register on the app.

The step was taken to ensure that the employees remain safe as they had to commute to work regularly. Then later on registering on the Aarogya Setu app was also mandatory for private and public sector office employees, along with individuals residing in the marked containment zones for the COVID-19-affected places, or those who were traveling through flights.

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[weelectronicstudentreviewstuff]

Aarogya Setu App Now Lets You Permanently Delete Your Account, Erase App Data: All Details Here

Aarogya Setu App Now Lets You Permanently Delete Your Account, Erase App Data: All Details Here

The government-owned Aarogya Setu app, which is India’s first Covid-19 contact tracing app, now lets registered users delete their accounts permanently. The latest feature which comes with a new update of the app, also lets users erase all their data stored by Aarogya Setu. Furthermore, the app has also added a new ability to use Bluetooth contacts to assess the risk level associated with…

[indizombie]

Contact tracing app Aarogya Setu is facing renewed criticism for lack of transparency, with many security experts pointing out that what the government released as the app’s ‘back-end code’ was not what it was claimed to be. “What they’ve released right now is some non-functional code snippets. It is client-side code loaded onto the app from a web address and not the server functions or the data-handling part. The back-end code, which handles the data, including the data schemas, has still been kept secret," said Anivar Aravind, an advisory board member at the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), who had challenged the mandatory imposition of the app in the Karnataka high court, highlighting its implications on privacy.

Prasid Banerjee. 'Experts seek full Aarogya Setu code, not bits of it', Mint

[vilaspatelvlogs]

कोरोना संक्रमण के बहाने सरकारें किस हद तक नागरिकों की करेगी निगरानी

कोरोना संक्रमण के बहाने सरकारें किस हद तक नागरिकों की करेगी निगरानी

[ad_1]

बीबीसी हिन्दी, अमर उजाला, Updated Thu, 11 Jun 2020 06:00 PM IST

कोरोना महामारी ने भले ही मजबूत मौजूदा विश्व व्यवस्था को बुरी तरह से हिलाकर रखा दिया हो लेकिन आर्टिफ़शियल इंटेलिजेंस के इकोसिस्टम को आगे बढ़ाने में इसने अहम भूमिका निभाई है। न केवल कोरोना वायरस की वैक्सीन बनाने और वायरस को फैलने से रोकने के काम में इस तकनीक की मदद ली जा रही है, बल्कि नागरिकों की निजता का उल्लंघन करने और…

[arko006-blog]

Aarogya Setu App Data Is ‘Highly Encrypted’, NITI Aayog CEO Claims The Central government's Aarogya Setu mobile application is based on "privacy-first by design" principle keeping in mind the safety and privacy of users' data, said Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog.

[few-favorite-things]

সম্পূর্ণ সুরক্ষিত আরোগ্য সেতু অ্যাপ, হ্যাকারকে জবাব কেন্দ্রের | No Data Breach In Aarogya Setu App: Government On Hackers Red Flag | Technology

সম্পূর্ণ সুরক্ষিত আরোগ্য সেতু অ্যাপ, হ্যাকারকে জবাব কেন্দ্রের | No Data Breach In Aarogya Setu App: Government On Hackers Red Flag | Technology

খুব সুরক্ষিত পদ্ধতিতে এনক্রিপটেড সার্ভারে সংরক্ষিত থাকে ব্যবহারকারীদের তথ্য, জানিয়েছে কেন্দ্র

#নয়াদিল্লি:করোনা ভাইরাসের প্রকোপ থেকে বাঁচতেই ‘‌Aarogya Setu’‌ অ্যাপ এনেছে কেন্দ্র। ‘আরোগ্য সেতু’ নামে এই অ্যাপ আপনার ফোনে ইন্সটল করা থাকলে আপনার কাছাকাছি কোনও করোনা আক্রান্ত এলে নোটিফিকেশন পেয়ে যাবেন। লোকেশন ও ব্লুটুথ, এই দুটি ব্যবহার করে এই তথ্য জানাবে…

[weelectronicstudentreviewstuff]

Latest MHA Order on Aarogya Setu Shows Why Contact Tracing Apps Won't Work in India

Latest MHA Order on Aarogya Setu Shows Why Contact Tracing Apps Won’t Work in India

Representative screenshot of the Aarogya Setu app. (Image: MyGov)

Majority of India’s mobile phone users still use feature phones. The new MHA order on Aarogya Setu underlines this, and the problem with contact tracing.

News18.com

Last Updated: May 21, 2020, 11:50 AM IST

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) released its latest order for regulations to be…

[timessquarein]

As countries around the world are fighting COVID-19, old systems are being repurposed using new technology with one such system being that of contact tracing. It entails identifying those who are infected with disease, advising them to be under self-quarantine and tracking down all those whom they have been in contact with, to prevent the disease from further spreading.

Ordinarily, this is done through the interview method, however, given the shortage of personnel, the rapid and unexplained pace of the virus's growth as well as the likelihood of inaccuracy of information given by any subject, technological solutions are being looked at across the globe.

The Aarogya Setu app.

The Indian government has addressed this by creation of the Aarogya Setu app.

How does it work?

The app generates a unique ID for each user and it keeps a track of all other IDs coming in contact with it and the GPS location and time of said contact. The idea being that if the Bluetooth of two phones is coming in touch, if one individual is found to be infected, the other individual is at a potential risk of infection.

What are the concerns?

Given the sensitive nature of data involved and the mandatory prescription for using the app, concerns about privacy violations have been raised. The Supreme Court in the Puttuswamy judgment (2017) reiterated that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right and laid down the proportionality test to assess any State restriction imposed on said right.

The proportionality test comprises of five aspects which are as follows: First, it must have a legislative basis and a legitimate aim must be pursued. Second, it should be a rational method to achieve the intended aim. Third, there must be no less restrictive means which can also achieve the intended aim (necessity). Lastly, the benefits must outweigh the harm caused to the right holder. While independent arguments can be raised negating the fulfilment of each of these prongs. It is clear from the outset is that in the absence of any legislation governing this app, the criterion is not met as all these conditions have to be satisfied for the test to be fulfilled.

In addition, basic principles of data protection such as data minimisation, purpose limitation, transparency and accountability are not fulfilled. The inclusion of other services such as the PM Cares Fund laughs in the face of the purpose limitation and scares many privacy activists of this evolving into another Aadhaar where the root purpose is needlessly clubbed with derived purposes.

The extensive personal information that the app secures is against the norm of data minimisation. In addition, the privacy policy of the app does not mention the relevant department with which the information may be shared. Lastly, in the absence of any governing legislation, the terms of service and privacy policy play fast and loose with the data retention issue.

On to the technology, there is a possibility of false alarms as proximity does not indicate probability. Bluetooth would exchange the Unique IDs even if two people walk past each other within a certain range, while maintaining all necessary precautions, as well as people who may be sitting across different rooms and different floors. If one is found to be infected, all the concomitant user IDs would be incorrectly identified as potentially being infected.

How can this be addressed?

In the absence of a data protection legislation, there is a necessity to ensure that the government at the very least passes a legislation and if not an ordinance, which works in consonance with the principles laid down in the Puttuswamy judgment as well as those stated by Sri Krishna Committee Report on Data Protection.

Any legislative instrument should have a definite sunset clause, giving a prospective time period for how long the data acquired will be placed on the government cloud servers and of its subsequent deletion.

In doing so it would ensure that the element of parliamentary accountability is brought into effect. In the interim period, a judicial oversight committee should be formed as has been done by the government in South Africa.

Furthermore, if the raucous response (however delirious) by the masses to the prime minister’s addresses is reflective of anything, is that unlike other countries there is an immense degree of faith in the Central leadership in India.

For the app to work it must be adopted 50 to 70 percent of the relevant population, thus transparency is key for having continued faith in the governments initiatives.

As contact tracing techniques will be critical in ensuring that the virus’s resurgence is curtailed when the lockdown is eased.

Thus what the application also provides is an opportunity to have a new conversation on the usage of data. One approach could be with the government having an open dialogue focusing on the usage of this app for public health, patients and lastly citizens. All essential aspects but each of a different nature.

Public health would focus on why this app needs to be used; its relevance in ensuring that finite resources that are being used most effectively in dealing with this pandemic.

From the patient's perspective, contact tracing could help patients in ascertaining how to address issues such as seeking care and ensuring access to health care providers. This would help them in addressing their worries in terms of how to deal with the virus.

Finally, the citizen perspective is relevant in having community-level strategies as has already done by the identification of different zones (Green, Orange and Red).

On a micro level this could help in collective curve flattening with the GPS information being collected used to develop community strategies. However, the caveat being that the personally identifiable information that the app presently collects is not clubbed with it. Instead the app should only state that a COVID-19 patient was there.

With respect to the Bluetooth technology, app developers could incorporate a user interface which would state that one is within a range of device XYZ, whether this is an infection range (Y/N). In the event of any false alarms, they can simply be clicked away. Better yet, the app design could invite people to add a nickname and a photo so that contacts could see who they are.

Conclusion

A judicial inquiry in this issue seems unlikely at this stage and if the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Anuradha Bhasin (Kashmir lockdown) case is anything to go by, it’s clear that they are strongly advocating for the separation of powers doctrine in national security matters, by ensuring that the executive carries out a constitutional review of its actions.

The app is here to stay and likely to be critical in policy decisions.

While the Indian government has had a dodgy history when balancing between privacy and national security, this is an opportunity to show their belief in the rule of law even in the midst of a pandemic by engaging in some innovative thinking.

from Firstpost India Latest News https://bit.ly/35BY4W5 via IFTTT

[antoine-roquentin]

The Talaash (roughly, “Search”) app and website have been set up to allow “people to inform the administration of suspected Covid cases in their neighborhood” and to “track down the evaders.” Through this website one can both report about themselves and anonymously report about others. In March, days after a social media ban was lifted in Kashmir, the police issued an advertisement urging citizens to send them screenshots of individuals sharing “inflammatory terror or violence-loaded” posts. The advertisement promised a monetary reward to any informers—who they dubbed “peace-makers”—if a First Information Report was registered based on their complaint.

Additionally, drones normally used in counterinsurgency operations have also been deployed for making announcements and “supervising” sealed areas in Kashmir. The Indian army has also been kind enough to set up about seventeen helplines to “help the awaam (people) to manage stresses related to Covid-19 and to provide immediate relief to those seeking advice.” While it is difficult to ascertain the effectiveness of the app and these helplines in slowing the spread of the virus, it’s hard to ignore that they legitimize spying while increasing state penetration at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, I have been receiving constant SMS alerts instructing me to download the Aarogya Setu (“bridge to health”)—a flagship app developed by the Indian government to “help India win this fight with Covid-19.” But this “bridge” lies in the shadow of a huge watchtower. The app gathers user data, tracking real-time movements as well as one’s proximity to other users. No surprise, then, that the ruling Bharatya Janata Party’s IT cell, notorious for trolling and peddling fake news, has been urging people to download it. While the agency overseeing the app remains unknown, its terms of conditions clearly state that data may be shared with other agencies as the government deems fit, even for purposes other than epidemic control.

[localbizlift]

A security expert says India’s contact tracing app has flaws. New Delhi says they are ‘by design’

The Indian government has said that its contact tracing app Aarogya Setu “by design” fetches the location data of its 90 million users and allows them to view the concentration of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in their vicinity.

New Delhi issued the statement after France-based security researcher Baptiste Robert found what he argues are design flaws and privacy issues.

The government said it has always disclosed that it fetches users’ location data, a feature that critics say falls short of the privacy protections offered by similar technologies, including the joint project run by Apple and Google.

Aarogya Setu’s privacy policy says the app — in addition to collecting location data of a user at the time of registration — also “continuously collects your location data and stores securely on your mobile device, a record of all the places you have been at 15-minute intervals.” The app uploads this data to its server along with the user’s digital ID if they test positive for COVID-19, or self-declare seeing symptoms that indicate that they might be infected with the infectious disease, it says.

Collecting location data is a complicated subject, regardless of the good intention of its developers and operators. On Monday, Google and Apple banned the use of location tracking on their coronavirus tracing technology.

While some developers have argued that they need access to location data to track how outbreaks move and identify hotspots, privacy advocates have cautioned that if this data ever gets exposed, it could ostracize those who are affected.

Robert’s other concern is that Aarogya Setu, which was launched early last month, allows anyone to view the concentration of people in 500 meters to up to 10 kilometers who are either suspicious they have coronavirus, or are certain that they have the disease. He told TechCrunch that he was able to develop a script and view similar data for any nook and cranny of the world’s second most populous nation.

He said the government, which introduced a nationwide lockdown in late March, could have kept the radius limited to 500 meters.

In response, New Delhi said that its system is designed in a way that would prevent any script from making bulk requests. Additionally, it said, “getting data for multiple latitude and longitude this way is no different from asking several people of their location’s COVID-19 statistics.”

“All this information is already public for all locations and hence does not compromise on any personal or sensitive data,” the response said.

Some people argued today that at a crisis like this, when thousands of people are dying, these “flaws” were the least of their concerns and that the app served a much greater purpose. But Aarogya Setu, which has amassed 90 million monthly active people in less than 35 days, has also ruffled some feathers for the way it is being scaled up. New Delhi said earlier this month that all government and private sector employees need to have this app installed on their smartphones.

On Tuesday, local authority in Noida city, home to more than 640,000 people, on the outskirts of Delhi, said those who did not have Aarogya Setu app installed on their phone would be fined or sent to prison.

[brajeshupadhyay]

08:52 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates Odisha confirms 177 COVID-19 cases with two deaths With more person testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Odisha, the total number of confirmed cases in the state climbed to 177 on Wednesday. The health department also said one fresh COVID-19 fatality was reported, taking the toll to two. Of the total confirmed cases, there are 115 active cases. The recovery rate stood at 33.9 percent after 60 COVID-19 patients were discharged.  08:42 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates In Images: Industrial units in Kathua open today  Jammu & Kashmir: Industrial units in Kathua open today amid #CoronavirusLockdown, following the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. pic.twitter.com/fnKAsCGrFu — ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020 08:24 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates Aarogya Setu team says 'no data at risk' after French hacker raises concerns over security issue The official handle of Aarogya Setu contact-tracing app, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, asserted late on Tuesday that "no personal information of any user has been proven to be at risk". The reply from the team came in response to a tweet by Elliot Alderson, a French security researcher, earlier in the day, who claimed: "Hi @SetuAarogya, A security issue has been found in your app. The privacy of 90 million Indians is at stake. Can you contact me in private? Regards. PS: Rahul Gandhi was right." Hi @SetuAarogya, A security issue has been found in your app. The privacy of 90 million Indians is at stake. Can you contact me in private? Regards, PS: @RahulGandhi was right — Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 5, 2020 08:13 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates Aarogya Setu team issues statement on data security of app Statement from Team #AarogyaSetu on data security of the App. pic.twitter.com/JS9ow82Hom — Aarogya Setu (@SetuAarogya) May 5, 2020 08:06 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates 64K flights to airlift stranded Indians from 12 countries from Thursday  An airlift operation will commence on Thursday with 64 flights bringing back close to 15,000 Indian nationals from 12 countries in the first week of the ambitious exercise to repatriate lakhs of people.  The operation, as foreign minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet, is titled 'Vande Bharat Mission'. Commenced preparations for Vande Bharat Mission. Planning underway for stranded Indian nationals to return home starting 7th May. Urge them to keep in regular touch with their Embassies. pic.twitter.com/uFtNijO3DO — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2020 07:50 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates Security concerns pointed out by legal experts in Aarogya Setu app  A clause limiting the government's liability to user data for its Aarogya Setu contact tracing app has made some legal experts question whether, in case of unauthorised access to the information, a legal recourse would be the only option available, especially since the app has been made mandatory for a significant section of citizens. According to the app's terms and conditions, the user "agrees and acknowledges that the Government of India will not be liable for…any unauthorized access to your information or modification thereof." 07:41 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates In Photos: Special train carrying 1,200 migrants depart from Punjab for UP Punjab: A Shramik special train, carrying around 1200 people, left from Jalandhar last night for Uttar Pradesh, last night amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/d94vacB7GD — ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020 07:37 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana Latest Updates Lockdown extension in Telangana till 29 May  Telangana has said it will continue the lockdown in the state to curb the fast-spreading coronavirus till 29 May - ten days after it is scheduled to end in the rest of the country. "People want lockdown extended. I have informed the prime minister about our decision," said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after a 7- hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening. The state has six districts in the red zone, 18 in orange and nine in the green zone. 07:31 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates Sec 144 extended in Ghaziabad till 31 May  The Ghaziabad administration on Tuesday extended the imposition of Section 144 of CrPC ​in the district till 31 May.  However, district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey clarified restrictions on movement and opening of establishments will remain applicable only till the lockdown is in place. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The official handle of Aarogya Setu contact-tracing app, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, asserted late on Tuesday that "no personal information of any user has been proven to be at risk". The reply from the team came in response to a tweet by Elliot Alderson, a French security researcher, earlier in the day, who claimed: "Hi @SetuAarogya, A security issue has been found in your app. The privacy of 90 million Indians is at stake. Can you contact me in private? Regards. PS: Rahul Gandhi was right." A clause limiting the government's liability to user data for its Aarogya Setu contact tracing app has made some legal experts question whether, in case of unauthorised access to the information, a legal recourse would be the only option available, especially since the app has been made mandatory for a significant section of citizens. According to the app's terms and conditions, the user "agrees and acknowledges that the Government of India will not be liable for…any unauthorized access to your information or modification thereof." The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases rose by a record 3,900 on Tuesday while deaths from the deadly coronavirus topped the 1,500-mark with nearly 200 more fatalities, even as the Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said "fighting coronavirus is no rocket science" and that "people may remember this pandemic as a blessing in disguise if they imbibe good hygiene practices". Vardhan told PTI that India has been able to stave off community transmission of COVID-19 and hoped that the "behavioural changes" brought about by the infection could become the "new normal" for a healthy society after the pandemic abates. In its 5 pm official update on the COVID-19 situation in India, the Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 1,583 with 194 fatalities reported since Monday evening, while the number of cases saw a big jump of 3,875 to reach 46,711. However, a PTI tally of numbers reported by different states and Union territories till 6.30 pm showed more than 47,000 people testing positive for the virus so far, while it put the death toll at over 1,500. It also showed nearly 13,000 COVID-19 patients having recovered. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat report huge spike in COVID-19 cases Tamil Nadu reported 508 new cases on Tuesday, which took its tally past 4,000, while in Gujarat too, 441 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, taking its total to more than 6,200. Several other states also reported rising numbers. Experts, however, said the peak of this deadly virus outbreak was yet to come and may be witnessed in India over the next 4-6 weeks, while another spurt might be seen later during the winter season. The numbers suggested that more than one-third of the total confirmed cases across the country have been detected in the past one week, with only a few urban centres in a handful of states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi accounting for a bulk of it. Govt to bring back Indians stranded abroad Fears also emerged that India's tally may increase further with the government announcing plans to bring back a large number of Indians from various countries, beginning on Wednesday. PTI quoted sources as saying that over three lakh people have registered for the evacuation from the Gulf region itself. While the absolute number of cases and the toll in India is lower than many others, with more than 2.5 lakh people having lost their lives and over 35 lakh having been infected worldwide ever since the emergence of this virus in China last December, the lockdown restrictions have been lifted in several countries and many of them are now reporting few or zero cases. Government officials, however, maintained that India has managed to stave off a community transmission risk and the country remains in a "comfortable" position in terms of managing the COVID-19 crisis, though they cautioned against any laxity at the field level. Meanwhile, scores of migrant workers, desperate to travel back to their native states amidst the coronavirus-induced lockdown, on Tuesday came out on streets in Ahmedabad and Surat in Gujarat, officials said. While more than 1,000 migrant workers carrying luggage gathered in Nikol area in Ahmedabad following a rumour that buses would be run for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, several others came on streets in Varachha area of Surat city. According to PTI, Gujarat has seen the maximum movement of migrant workers to their home states in about 35 shramik special trains, followed by Kerala from where 13 such trains have left. Among the receiving states, Bihar has accepted 13 trains, with 11 more currently on the journey and six in the pipeline, the data shows. Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh has received 10 such trains and five more are on their way, with 12 in the pipeline, the data shows. The West Bengal government has, however, given clearance to only two trains -- one each from Rajasthan and Kerala -- and they are on their journeys to the state, the data shows. Highest single-day jump in toll and cases The Health Ministry said the country recorded a record single-day increase of 195 deaths and 3,900 cases between Monday 8 am and Tuesday 8 am. These included fatalities reported from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, among other places. At the same time, the recovery rate has improved to 28.17 percent, health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said during a press briefing on the COVID-19 situation. "We are very comfortable in terms of managing COVID-19 as of now, but any laxity at the field level or any lack of cooperation may have its consequences,” he warned. Agarwal also said that the delay in reporting of COVID-19 cases by certain states has led to the sudden spurt in figures. The country's top medical institute AIIMS' Director Randeep Guleria, however, claimed that the COVID-19 curve has remained relatively flat so far, but cautioned that the continued rise in the number of cases at a steady rate is a cause of concern. Different modelling experts have predicted that a peak in the number of cases of COVID-19 may occur in the next four to six weeks — that is by the end of May or the middle of June, Guleria said, while stressing on the need to remain extra vigilant and to make efforts to reduce the number of cases in the hotspots.   "However, the number of cases continue to rise at a steady rate and this is a cause of concern. Every citizen should understand his responsibility and sincerely follow the principles of lockdown and social distancing, especially if they are in hotspots or containment areas," Guleria, a pulmonologist, said. He also said that the country may see a rise in COVID-19 cases during the winter again. Must do 'balancing act' between health, economy: Harsh Vardhan   The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in a report that India's unemployment rate has soared to 27.11 percent amid the COVID-19 crisis, from below 7 percent in mid-March. The Mumbai-based think tank said the rate of unemployment was the highest in the urban areas, which constitute the most number of the red zones due to the COVID-19 cases, at 29.22 percent, as against 26.69 percent for the rural areas. Separately, Vardhan also underlined the importance of the nationwide lockdown, imposed since 24 March and scheduled to remain in place till 17 May, and said health should be on the radar just as much as the economy.   “The government has to do a balancing act,” Vardhan said on the need to focus on the health of people as well as on the economy. He also said the nation, in a post-coronavirus future, could well look back on the pandemic period as a “blessing in disguise” if Indians imbibe hand, respiratory and environmental hygiene and practise it daily. "By now we know that fighting coronavirus is no rocket science. If behavioural changes such as hand, environmental and respiratory hygiene, which are being practiced more rigorously during this period, get imbibed in society it will become the new normal," Vardhan said. Other than smallpox and polio, no other viral infection has been completely eradicated from this country. Other diseases keep recurring, the minister said, indicating that COVID-19 might be here for the long haul. In the meantime, new cases that were detected on Tuesday included the serving and retired armed forces personnel in the Army's Research and Referral hospital in the National Capital. Authorities also sealed a floor of Shastri Bhavan, which houses several important ministries, after a senior official of the Law Ministry tested positive for the coronavirus. This was the second incident of a government building being partially cordoned off in the Lutyen's Delhi within a week, after the NITI Aayog building in the high-security zone was sealed on 28 April for 48 hours after a director-level officer tested positive for the virus. Before that, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, which houses the Civil Aviation Ministry, was sealed for sanitisation. In other such incidents, the CRPF headquarters and a portion of the BSF headquarters were also sealed recently. These buildings are in CGO Complex in the national capital. UK's COVID-19 toll crosses Italy's casualties Britain on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to confirm more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths, and infections rose sharply again in Russia, even as other nations made great strides in containing the scourge. China marked its third week with no new reported deaths, while South Korea restarted its baseball season. China and South Korea together reported only four cases on Tuesday, while Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand were among the countries having reported no cases for two consecutive days. Also, focus seems to have shifted globally towards developing a vaccine with several world leaders committing more than $8 billion since Monday for this purpose. In the US, some states took continued steps to lift the lockdown restrictions that have thrown millions out of work, even as the country recorded thousands of new infections and deaths every day. Underscoring the stakes, New York state reported 1,700 more people died in nursing homes than it had previously counted. The British government said about 28,700 people with COVID-19 had died in hospitals, nursing homes and other settings, while Italy reported close to 29,100 fatalities. Both figures are almost certainly underestimates because they include only people who tested positive, and testing was not widespread in Italian and British nursing homes until recently. With inputs from agencies

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/05/coronavirus-outbreak-live-updates_73.html

[iamsiddharthanilnair]

Covid-19 and Surveillance: Tracing and Monitoring the Pandemic

Given the vast dimension of the Covid-19 pandemic, states around the world have now begun to use a large number of surveillance tools to trace, monitor and regulate the movements of their local populations. Most responses to the pandemic have been a combination of tracing, lockdowns and testing. Tracing allows concerned authorities to narrow down potential infection areas, and simultaneously warn the public of the same. Lockdowns, whether staggered, regional or national are to cut-down the novel coronavirus’ infamously high reproduction number (R0). Finally, testing – now the main focus of countries around the world – helps identify positive and negative cases, allowing for more coordinated and knowledgeable efforts to prepare the state’s healthcare system. However, the issue of tracing has become increasingly controversial.  

Concept & Counters

The main focus of Covid-19 mitigation efforts has been “social-distancing”; the maintenance of appropriate distance between two individuals or more, ensures that the virus does not spread innocuously throughout the population. However, in order to know when, where and from who social-distance should be maintained, states have started to – contact tracing aside – use existing mobile surveillance technologies to geo-locate individuals in a population and track their movements. 

However, the issue here is data privacy and the extent of the current surveillance. While understandable in the case of a health crisis such as Covid-19, citizens and rights-groups are concerned with how this data is stored and employed, and when the surveillance apparatus will be dismantled. Others are also concerned with the organisations involved in this effort – will they be public, or private? Will the data be anonymised and protected? And finally, who will monitor those monitoring? The list of questions go on.  The debate, as it were, is how do authorities balance the concerns of public healthcare, and private liberties?

Examples Around the Globe

It is also interesting to note that there is a difference in how concerned the public is in different parts of the world – with vigorous debate taking place predominantly in the US and Europe versus a more muted discussion in the Eastern hemisphere.

There are a variety of different surveillance methods being employed across the globe – Singapore’s use of the TraceTogether mobile app has made the concept quite popular (even though South Korea did the same much before); users download the app, consent to the state’s surveillance, and using bluetooth link-up, the app identifies other users in the vicinity, where and for how long the encounter was, and finally stores that data for a defined period for the Health Ministry’s use. Many EU states such as Germany and France are looking to adopt this model, but will devise a system – now called the Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT) project – based on EU privacy and data monitoring standards. 

Another system is based on tapping into existing location monitoring programs courtesy of telecommunications companies or technology firms like Google or Apple. Initial tracing efforts in the EU were dependent on private mobile operators; these were similar to and based on Chinese precedent – Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings were roped into supporting government tracing and monitoring efforts in the mainland. 

Finally, there are municipal-level efforts to ensure that citizens are adhering to lockdown laws while simultaneously supporting tracking efforts. Different provinces in Russia have employed various levels of surveillance ranging from tracking bracelets to permission slips. In Moscow, facial-recognition systems have been put into overdrive to actively track potential positive-cases, and “digital-passes” now have to be requested for even the slightest step out (whether throwing the trash or buying groceries); Nizhny Novgorod has developed a QR-code system that allows authorities to note down the user’s movements across public areas; finally, in Murmansk the authorities have instituted an electronic bracelet system that allows authorities to maintain real-time tracking of all cases, and violations of lockdown laws. 

The last system has possibly been derived from Hong-Kong’s geo-fencing bracelet system that allows authorities to do the same, however, while still maintaining user privacy – the system only lights up when the user violates a fixed boundary, data is anonymised and never stored. 

Conclusion 

There appear to be a variety of ways that states can monitor and limit the movements of its population; the pandemic also helps citizens and groups see the extent of the existing surveillance apparatus. From geolocation monitoring to simple QR-code systems, and from bluetooth handshakes to real-time permission slips, the range of surveillance tools is large and to many alarming – and rightfully so. India on its part has been incredibly successful at making use of traditional contact-tracing measures to mitigate the spread of the virus; even so authorities have recently developed the Aarogya Setu app to help trace potential cases in its +1 billion population. 

However, while states around the world exercise their right to protect their citizens, it is also important to keep in mind that data today, is a double-edged sword – especially dangerous in the wrong hands.