To combat the impact of COVID-19, digital technologies like mobile apps have been utilized by countries worldwide for contact tracing, monitoring, dissemination of preventive strategies and surveillance. This has further led to an increase in concerns over negative effects of these apps on an individuals’ privacy. The objective of this paper is to review the features and privacy framework of the existing COVID-19 apps and provide guidance on how these apps are integrated into COVID-19 control approaches to help prepare for future pandemics.

Objective: To review the features and privacy framework of the existing COVID-19 apps and provide guidance on how these apps are integrated into COVID-19 control approaches to help prepare for future pandemics.
Duration: 4 months
Methods: Review

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COVID-19 digital apps have currently limited evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of these tools despite that several countries have deployed digital tools for their COVID-19 response. It is important to have adequate regulatory oversight of digital tools and technologies for contact tracing as they carry the potential to do harm through privacy breaches.

FHTS, New Delhi