AP: Alabama lagging behind on cellphone contact tracing for COVID-19

Only about 3% of Alabamians are utilizing smartphone contact tracing technology to alert people that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An Associated Press analysis finds that new software for alerting people about coronavirus exposure has been slow to catch on. APR reported on this technology back in June. Apple and Google developed the technology which is being praised by security experts for protecting user privacy. Still, only eighteen U.S. states and territories are making the APP available, and adoption remains low. Alabama is on a list with Wyoming, North Dakota, Michigan, and Nevada for public use of 1% to 3%. Alabama Public Radio reported on a University of Alabama grad whose company developed and demonstrated contact tracing technology. Privacy concerns, tech issues, and political polarization are also keeping the number of downloads low. Click for this story below.