When the MySJ Trace feature was introduced late last year it was met with some resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was touted as an important component of the Health Ministry\u2019s efforts to better their Covid-19 track and trace efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much so that its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, considered making it compulsory for all My Sejahtera app users if not enough people used it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE: <\/strong>MOH Really Wants You To Use MySJ Trace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, people were worried about their privacy, phone battery life, and were generally shy about adopting this new feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To address some of the issues Dr Mahesh Appannan<\/a> took to Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Mahesh is the head of data at the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) and the senior principal assistant director, CPRC Disease Control Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent thread, Dr Mahesh addressed three questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does my \u201cinteraction\u201d number go up, even though I\u2019m staying at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Mahesh says that the average range of the Bluetooth technology used by MySJ Trace is 10m. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But this could be affected by many factors such as the model of your smartphone and if it is placed in a bag or a pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because most of us take our phones out while at home, your phone may be detecting your neighbour\u2019s phone and making the number go up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is even more so if you live in an apartment where you have a neighbour above, below and on the sides as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So don\u2019t worry if the number of \u201cinteractions\u201d in MySJ Trace go up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is MySJ Trace exposing my data when there is an \u201cinteraction\u201d?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Mahesh says no. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All your data is stored in your phone and access to it requires explicit consent. It will only be requested if you are Covid-19 positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Else the data will be erased after 14 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This practice, says Dr Mahesh, is used in the UK and Singapore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that there is no exchange of information happening when an \u201cinteraction\u201d is recorded either if privacy is what you\u2019re worried about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, why do I still need to check in using the QR code?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Mahesh boils it down to “because not everyone will use the MySj Trace system.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ministry of Health still needs data to detect close contacts, especially in large clusters. So check-ins still help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While MySejahtera check-ins can tell how long someone has been at a general location, MySj Trace can tell how close you were to someone and for how long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By combining MySj Trace and check-ins, close contact confirmation could be done automatically and more accurately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, KKM can get the critical data that they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biar saya jelaskan 3 perkara yang mungkin anda persoalkan:
1) Mengapa ada “interaction” walaupun saya duduk di rumah sahaja?
2) Adakah MySJ Trace mendedahkan data saya bila ada “interaction”? (langsung tidak)
3) Mengapa masih perlu check-in dengan scan QR?
\ud83e\uddf5 https:\/\/t.co\/P0jyjK65zG<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Dr Mahesh Appannan (@maheshappannan) January 2, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>