Nature journal, based on the analysis of 50 such apps on Google Play Store, reveals that several of them do not ensure the privacy of users’ data.The researchers, Tanusree Sharma and Masooda Bashir, found that 30 of the 50 apps demand access to phone features, such as contacts, photos, call information, and audio settings.
Only 16 apps promise anonymity and encryption of personal data and say that they will use the information only in an aggregated format.Most of these apps are meant for real-time alerts and monitoring isolation and quarantine through location-based tracking.Six Indian apps were part of the study, including the ones released by the governments of West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab.