UK public supports usage of tracking technology and immunity passports in global pandemic

New research suggests the majority of people in the UK are
willing to use privacy-encroaching tracking technology and support the
introduction of ‘immunity passports’ to protect themselves and others in the
COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE,
found more than two thirds of respondents overall would accept some form of
smartphone tracking app to help manage social distancing and the relaxation of
a full public lockdown.

However, its findings are not reflected in the number of
people who have downloaded the NHS Test and Trace app, prompting calls for this
issue to be addressed.

Lead author Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair in Cognitive
Psychology at the University of Bristol, said: “Attitudes were surprisingly
permissive and this is good news for public health. But there appears to be a
significant gap between what people say they’re willing to do and what they
actually do, which needs further investigation. Lack of uptake is a big problem
because such systems need more than half – 56 per cent – of the general
population on board to be effective in helping control a pandemic.

“As of the end of last month, nearly 21 million people in the
UK had downloaded the app, which is more than 10 million below target for it to
work properly. There could be many reasons for this, which could be
technological barriers, confusion, or simply lack of awareness. But the fact
respondents were very receptive and open to such tools should be encouraging
and indicates while people don’t want to throw away their privacy, they are
willing to make compromises perhaps for the greater good.”

The research comprised two online surveys with more than
3,500 respondents in total, the first carried out in March 2020 and the second
in April 2020, when COVID-19 case numbers had reached nearly 100,000 and
resulted in almost 15,000 deaths. The NHS Test and Trace app, a decentralised
tool relying on Google/Apple Bluetooth technology, was later introduced in
September 2020.

Both surveys presented at least two scenarios – an app, using
smartphone tracking data to identify and contact those who may have been
exposed to people with COVID-19, which people can choose to download. The
second scenario proposed this app was compulsory for all mobile phone users and
enabled the Government to use the data to locate anyone violating lockdown
orders and enforce them with fines and arrests.

In both surveys, the levels of acceptance for each scenario
were broadly the same. Around 70 per cent of respondents accepted the opt-in
app and almost two thirds, some 65 per cent overall, accepted
the mandatory version with tighter enforcement. When a sunset clause was
introduced, resulting in all data being deleted after two weeks, acceptance
levels of both scenarios rose to more than 75 per cent. Acceptance increased
further still to more than 85 per cent when, on top of the time limit, an
opt-out clause was provided.

Professor Lewandowsky said: “Such high levels of acceptance
were quite unexpected but welcome. It would be concerning if people didn’t care
at all about their privacy, but the fact they indicated even greater acceptance
with additional measures to preserve it is reassuring and suggests careful
consideration before being willing to surrender it.”

The second survey also explored attitudes towards so-called
immunity passports, which could be issued to people who carry COVID-19
antibodies as an indication they are immune to the virus and unable to spread
it. Resistance to the idea was relatively low and more than 60 per cent of
respondents wanted one for themselves.

Professor Lewandowsky said: “Only 20 per cent of people
strongly opposed the idea, mainly on grounds of fairness, which was
surprisingly low. It’s fascinating how people seem increasingly receptive to
their personal data being used to inform themselves and others about what they
can and can’t do.

“As a follow-up, it would be beneficial to know whether
people have relaxed their privacy attitudes as an exception due to the
emergency situation or if our findings show a wider acceptance of
privacy-encroaching technologies, for example continuous monitoring of your
power consumption at home or tracking of location by law enforcement
authorities.”

The research forms part of an international project with
similar surveys being conducted in countries across the world, including
Australia, the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain.

Paper
reference

‘Public acceptance of Privacy-Encroaching Policies to Address
the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Kingdom’ by Stephan Lewandowsky, Simon
Dennis, Andrew Perfors, Yoshihisa Kashima, Joshua P. White, Paul Garrett,
Daniel R. Little, Muhsin Yesilada in PLOS ONE