Quebec government begins public consultations on COVID-19 mobile app

The provincial government is calling on Quebecers to share their opinion in an online public consultation on the use of a mobile coronavirus exposure notification application.

Éric Caire, Quebec’s minister for government digital transformation, is responsible for launching the consultation, which runs until August 2. The government believes the app could contribute to the collective effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The app, according to a press release, preserves anonymity and privacy, while improving communication with users by warning them if they have been exposed to the virus. The government considers it essential that the public be involved in the approval process.

“It is important for our government to give Quebecers a voice and allow them to express themselves freely. I therefore invite them to participate in this consultation in large numbers,” said Caire.

People can visit the government consultation platform at consultation. quebec.ca, if they wish to participate or learn more about the application. The government pinpointed several general principles in order for the application to work.

The application will be free to the entire population with a smartphone. It’s anonymous, secure and installed on a voluntary basis. It will work without using GPS geolocation. It will not use biometrics, which means no facial recognition software.

The press release adds that the application will utilize Bluetooth technology, meaning it will not collect any personal information or perform any tracking. The effectiveness of the app depends entirely on the public’s participation.

According to the website, it would be possible to deactivate the application at any time or completely erase it. When in use, the app would notify people if they have been in close proximity with another user who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The government stresses that when people receive a notification it will not contain any information about the smartphone location or its owner. Caire also pointed out that there would be a parliamentary commission held in August.