A recent study done by Jonathan Albright, director of the Digital Forensics Initiative at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, analyzed the data permission requests of 493 iOS apps related to COVID-19 tracking, including contact tracing, exposure notification, screening, reporting, workplace monitoring, and more.
The study found that an overwhelming majority of the apps did not rely on Apple’s exposure-notification system, which collects Bluetooth location tracking, instead opting for more personal information. Many apps request access to information like live location tracking at all times and access to a user’s camera and microphone.
While Albright and his team found no evidence of malicious data usage, the study highlights the need for vigilance and awareness on users’ part when downloading apps.
