Ben AdidaMay 13, 2023

I want to give a shout out to exposure notifications, the API Apple and Google created at the beginning of the pandemic. Well scoped. In close collaboration with domain experts. Privacy protecting. Measurably helped, maybe not as much as hoped, but still. And now being responsibly shut down, as promised.

We should praise folks when tech is done right. I want to see more of this responsible deployment of tech.

Show threadEvan ProdromouMay 13, 2023
@ben Ben, aren't there other communicable diseases that we could prevent with this technique, though?
Show threadBen AdidaMay 13, 2023
@evan my sense is it's most useful for emerging diseases or for diseases that have significant asymptomatic transmission. Plus you need a robust testing infrastructure, cause self reporting is weak and leads to false signals. So... Maybe? But i like that they're using it conservatively.
Show threadFinal Round Player 😷🇪🇺🍸May 13, 2023

@ben @evan The ZOE project in the UK shows that self reported tests still provide good data. The UK NHS app was altered late in the day to allow self reporting of OTC LFTs.

What I'd really like to understand is why the Google-Apple API was limited to one regional health authority. And separate but related, what the server side component is. It looks from the outside like we could have had a competitive marketplace for decentralised UI apps all interoperating via the API. But maybe not.

Show threadFinal Round Player 😷🇪🇺🍸May 13, 2023

@ben @evan Mainly it seems really sad that worldwide, the API is being abandoned, when #covidisnotover

And finally, what potential is there for the same code to be used for other highly infectious (airborne) diseases? Like Flu, RSV, Norovirus.

Show threadBen AdidaMay 13, 2023
@jbond @evan i guess I'm not bought into the idea that there would be good enough signal to noise ratio through self reporting of diseases where we don't do a ton of real diagnostic testing. Who gets a flu test? Most people just say they have the flu when they feel crappy.
Show threadFinal Round Player 😷🇪🇺🍸
@ben @evan A part of this would be public education that flu (and RSV and Norovirus ) are highly infectious and deeply unpleasant diseases that you should try hard not to pass on. It doesn't matter if the tests and reporting are a bit vague and prone to false positives, if it encourages people to voluntarily self isolate if they feel ill. Via peer pressure from the people who get the warning.
May 13, 2023 at 2:12pmWeb
Show threadBen AdidaMay 13, 2023
@jbond @evan that doesn't sound workable to me. People aren't going to prioritize public good if it's too vague or approximate.