Covid-19: Proposed health code app sparks anger in China

People wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus as they use a phone app to scan a code required to prove their health and travel status before being allowed to enter a shopping mall in Beijing. Mass government collection of data for epidemic-fighting purposes has sparked widespread concerns over data privacy and security. — AFP

BEIJING: A Chinese local government’s proposal for a post-coronavirus health app that ranks citizens based on their smoking, drinking, exercise and sleep habits has sparked fury online over privacy concerns.

China has already developed apps that indicate an individual’s likelihood of contracting coronavirus based on their travel history and whether they had come into contact with an infected case.