The European struggle with COVID-19 contact tracing app continues...

To reopen public life, we need to combine the gradual release of restrictive measures like social distancing, remote working, or lockdowns with vaccination, intense testing, and fast contact tracing. Automated contact tracing has particular relevance for larger gatherings like concerts or sports events. These will only be feasible if we closely monitor possible outbreaks and react fast to prevent substantial restrictions.

Unfortunately, contact tracing apps did not deliver. The lessons learnt from their failure should be: 1/ privacy first, second and third; 2/ simplicity, simplicity, simplicity; 3/ reliability, and 4/ take an approach that works with limited but focussed use.

We therefore stressed the importance to consider alternative technologies, like physical tokens. Tokens are a proven technology in logistics and have been deployed in Singapore to trace COVID-19 infections. They only require minimal functionality for contact tracing, are small, robust, cheap, and consume little energy. And their simplicity, single application, and the fact that they are not ‘always on’ allow for high levels of security and privacy protection. Tokens even work small scale if deployed to limited groups of people. No download or installation are needed, no connection to personal data possible.

EIT Digital partners created ventures to test COVID-19 tracing tokens in real-life settings and to commercialize and deploy their products. The tokens are built in Europe, operate on European software, and work independent of non-European (mobile) platforms. A tangible contribution to a more sovereign digital Europe!

We invite governments, businesses, sports and cultural sectors to apply tracing tokens for targeted use in schools, at workplaces, or for events. At this point, we must put all options on the table that could benefit a faster and safer return to a thriving economy and an open society.