Senators introduce bill to safeguard patient data in COVID-19 apps

Senators Cantwell and Cassidy introduced a bipartisan bill requiring public health officials to be involved in exposure notification apps, mandating user consent and allowing them to delete their data. The bill also prohibits commercial use of data. Cassidy sponsored the bill due to concerns about relying solely on Google and Apple for security standards. The bill’s measures align with Google and Apple’s technology. Privacy concerns remain, but the bill includes enforcement provisions. Cassidy hopes the bill will reassure users about the benefits of contact tracing.