North Macedonia Leads Region in COVID-19 Tracing App

Presenting the app, Health Minister Venko Filipce said North Macedonia was looking to use "all tools and possibilities" to combat a disease that, as of April 15, had killed 44 people.

Information Society Minister Damjan Manchevski said all data would be securely stored.

"This data is recorded on a secure server of the Ministry of Health," Manchevski said at the launch. "And no other user has access to mobile numbers, nor is there any data stored about the owner of the number."

If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they can "voluntarily" submit their data to the Ministry of Health, Manchevski said, enabling the app to warn other users if they come into contact with that person.

Data privacy concerns linger

Macedonian Minister of Health Venko Filipce accompanied by Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/NAKE BATEV

China, Singapore, Israel and Russia are among a number of countries that have developed their own coronavirus mobile tracking apps, mainly using Bluetooth, GPS, cellular location tracking and QR codes. The Chinese government app colour codes citizens according to risk level.

The technology, however, has set alarm bells ringing among data protection campaigners and rights organisations concerned about the threat posed by mass surveillance and loosening of data protection laws.

Nextsense director Vasko Kronevski, however, said his firm's StopKorona! app adhered to all legal requirements.

"This is a mobile app made by following best practices around the world in dealing with the coronavirus," he said. "It guarantees the complete protection of users' privacy."

"The success will depend on the mass use of the...

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