Is the COVIDsafe app working on your iPhone? - Here's what you need to know.

So in case you missed it, the Australian Government has implemented a COVID-19 contact tracing app "COVIDsafe" in attempts to combat the impact of the virus in Australia. The Government is calling for 40% of Australians use the app to help public health officials get on top of the spread of COVID-19, leading to a gradual scale-back of social distancing requirements.The other side of the coin is, of course, that privacy concerns have arisen.

It is no secret that if such a data collection software system was abused, raw location data could unveil some rather sensitive information of users. To combat this, teams of cryptographers are taking on the extraordinary task of enabling contact-tracing without mass surveillance. A great article by Wired explains how this is being done.

Privacy turns out not to be the only issue, with problems arising about its effectiveness on Apple devices. COVIDsafe is using Bluetooth to anonymously track the individuals you have come in contact with who are also using the app. However, Apple's software typically prevents third-party apps from running in the background. So what does this mean as an iOS user? Well essentially, you would always have to have your phone powered up, unlocked and have the COVIDsafe app opened at all times. Not particularly practical for Apple users.

In response, Apple and Google are building their own contact tracing app that they will then invite health officials to build off. The Government will be working with Google and Apple to assess the potential benefits a partnership could bring to the performance of the COVIDsafe app. For more information on the COVIDsafe Bluetooth concerns and the response of Apple and Google, give this ABC news article a glance.

Stay safe out there everyone!