At the request of the Ministry of Health and the NSC, the National Knowledge Center prepared a special review to examine the possibilities for monitoring and detecting corona patients, including the use of glandular technology or a QR code scan

At the request of the National Security Institute (NSC) and the Ministry of Health, and in the background of cabinet discussions, the "National Knowledge Center" prepared a special review on the use of technological means to identify patients and monitor population, in which other countries are dealing with the issue.

PM Netanyahu's Speech at the Corona Cabinet entrance // Photo: Itai Beit On / GPO

The report shows that there are two main types of measures: one is using an app that lets a person know if they were in a patient environment (glandular technology or other technologies) or using a QR code when entering closed places. Another means is using the location history that exists in a user's phone navigation apps. This information is useful in epidemiological investigations, but does not help identify potential contacts or infections.

It is also noted that measures based on Bluetooth technology and QR code are better suited to closed structures where there is a concern for mass infection events and have more extensive protection of user privacy than other measures. Analysis of the characteristics of the use of technologies by other countries indicates that "most Western countries currently prefer privacy over the use of invasive government technologies."

The authors of the document recommend examining the use of the "Protector" app (while upgrading and improving it) and at the same time implement mandatory business monitoring measures that enter the business by using a code or online form "that will balance civilian privacy and effective and efficient epidemiological investigation." In addition, they recommend using epidemiological investigations for patients in their location history stored on the mobile phone using software such as Google from scratch, which will be performed with the patient's consent.