Topic: Contact Tracing

Alberta Health Services launched "Alberta Trace Together," the first contact tracing application in North America, utilizing Bluetooth technology to record encounters between users. If a user tests positive for COVID-19, they can upload encrypted data to notify others to self-isolate. While the app avoids GPS tracking to address privacy concerns, it remains a focal point for debates on digital surveillance.

Australia's $1.5 million COVIDSafe app reportedly failed to identify new close contacts that hadn't already been found by manual tracers. Low download rates and technical glitches limited the app's effectiveness, with some states reporting zero data gathered from confirmed cases. The UK government expressed similar skepticism, noting that no country had yet deployed a fully functioning track-and-trace application.

Videos from Urumqi, Xinjiang, captured residents screaming from high-rise buildings in despair after 40 days of strict lockdown. In the United States, the NFL began requiring players and staff to wear proximity chips to facilitate contact tracing in the event of a positive test. The league reported only five positive cases out of 64,000 tests administered during the late summer period.

China has begun taking its "Mobile Itinerary Card" contact tracing app offline following widespread protests, though the primary health code scanning system remains in use. The government also reached a deal to allow German nationals in China to receive the BioNTech vaccine in exchange for Germany permitting a Chinese vaccine for its residents. Reports indicate that tracking apps were frequently manipulated to restrict the movement of human rights activists.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated on CNBC that the public should not have looked to the CDC for lifestyle guidance during the pandemic, as the agency is not designed for consumer-facing communication. The hosts interpret these comments as the establishment "throwing the CDC under the bus" to shift blame for failed pandemic policies.

A controversial patent application reportedly filed by Pfizer discusses the use of graphene oxide and the Internet of Things for remote contact tracing of vaccinated individuals. The application mentions using 2.4 GHz frequencies to activate substances within the body. While the hosts remain skeptical, they include the link in the show notes for further producer investigation.

The CDC introduces "Test-to-Stay" guidance, an approach allowing students exposed to COVID-19 to remain in school if they test negative twice a week. While intended to prevent missed school days, officials note that many schools lack the staffing and supplies to implement the frequent testing required.

Police in Western Australia accessed data from the SafeWA contact tracing app to assist in criminal investigations, contradicting government promises that the data would only be used for health purposes. The hosts highlight the public's feeling of betrayal and the government's defensive stance regarding the legality of the data seizure.

Parents at Exeter High School in New Hampshire expressed outrage after unvaccinated students had numbers written on their hands for contact tracing during the senior prom. The school defended the "branding" as a way to allow a near-normal experience. This led to a satirical suggestion for a "Kovogatchi"—a contact-tracing device modeled after the 1980s Tamagotchi toy.

The Trace Act (HR 6666) is discussed as a mechanism for door-to-door contact tracing and monitoring. CNN contributor Dr. Leana Wen is criticized for her stance on herd immunity, with the hosts claiming she ignores natural immunity from prior infection. The segment highlights falling vaccination rates in Texas and North Carolina.

Motorola Solutions is rolling out AI-powered surveillance technology in Australian factories and offices to enforce social distancing and mask mandates. The system uses "responsible AI" to track foot traffic and flag individuals for non-compliance without requiring a phone app.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews placed Melbourne back into a snap lockdown due to concerns over the "hyper-infectivity" of the UK COVID-19 variant. Andrews stated that the speed of the variant makes traditional contact tracing nearly impossible. The lockdown was implemented despite previous claims that the region had successfully eliminated community transmission.

Australia has implemented a high-tech contact tracing system requiring citizens to scan QR codes at every building and restaurant they enter. Meanwhile, the country is facing a shortage of Marmite, reportedly due to a lack of "beard dregs" or yeast byproducts. Warnings are issued that Australia may face new lockdowns as their winter flu season approaches.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Dr. Rachel Levine announced the launch of "COVID-19 Alert PA," a mobile app designed for contact tracing using Bluetooth technology. The app is intended to notify users of potential exposure without tracking specific locations via GPS. However, technical questions remain regarding the anonymity of the data and the effectiveness of the app if location services are disabled.

New Zealand is trialing Bluetooth contact tracing cards in the Nongotaha community to track "digital handshakes" between citizens. The trial involves 1,500 participants and is intended to assist those without smartphones in recording close contacts. Critics liken the wearable cards to electronic tags used for tracking animals or prisoners, raising concerns about the normalization of constant surveillance.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the "COVID Alert" app in an interview with Amber Mac, claiming it is completely anonymous and voluntary. Trudeau explained that the app uses Bluetooth to notify users if they have been near someone who later tests positive. The hosts remain skeptical of the "anonymized" claims, using a "boing" sound effect to punctuate their disbelief.

The Australian government is moving to digitize incoming passenger cards to streamline contact tracing and biosecurity data. The new digital system will eventually link authentic vaccination certificates to traveler profiles, potentially allowing those vaccinated to bypass quarantine. The system will use facial recognition on mobile devices to verify identities against passport data.

The UK National Health Service has implemented a QR code system for businesses that monitors the "red or green" status of patrons. Simultaneously, Amazon warehouses have reportedly deployed a surveillance system that projects six-foot green circles around employees on monitors. If these circles overlap, they turn red and trigger buzzers, alerting management to social distancing violations.

A pensioner in the UK was reportedly denied a meal for not having the government's COVID-19 phone app. The app and testing system are managed by Serco, a firm with ties to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Obama administration's Obamacare website. Serco also operates several for-profit prisons in the UK and Australia.

A resurfaced clip of Dr. Deborah Birx shows her referring to "the gates" that the federal government has recommended for reopening. The hosts interpret this as a slip of the tongue referencing Bill Gates' influence on public health policy. They discuss the ongoing efforts to establish contact tracing infrastructure across the United States.