MULTISYS TECHNOLOGIES Corp., the developer of StaySafe.ph, has removed the GPS and Bluetooth features of the contact-tracing app to ensure “zero surveillance.”
In an e-mailed statement, the software solutions company said the app’s “enhanced” QR code security prevents data exposure.
It noted that some people have been “reluctant” to use the contact-tracing app.
The government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of emerging infectious diseases issued a resolution on Nov. 26 last year declaring StaySafe.ph as its digital contact-tracing app of choice.
The app is mandatory for adoption and use in all government agencies. It is also promoted for use in private establishments or offices.
“These efforts have been done to build public confidence and trust in our digital contact tracing efforts. We appeal for everyone’s participation and support as we continue and reinforce our pandemic mitigation efforts this 2021,” Contact Tracing Czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said in the statement.
MultiSys said it is shouldering all the fees to maintain the cloud services needed by the app.
StaySafe.ph now has more than eight million users, according to its developer.
“More than 700 local government units and over 100,000 companies and establishments have adopted its built-in digital logbook and QR code scanning features to protect their employees, visitors, and customers. This provides an efficient way to replace the manual logging of visitors’ health check, which requires the use of pen and paper that can potentially transmit the virus,” it added.
The government said that all data collected through contact-tracing applications should be submitted to a centralized contact-tracing data repository for integration and linkage with appropriate laboratory results. — Arjay L. Balinbin
