StaySafe.PH app users will not be monitored, says developer

Multisys, the company behind the mobile application StaySafe.PH, on Thursday assured that its users will not be monitored through the application’s geolocation feature.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” the mobile phone application may automatically conduct contact tracing and give warning to its users of possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

“Mali po ‘yung impression na kapag nag download ka ng staysafe ay parang nasu-surveillance, hindi. There’s no surveillance on the individual who’s going to download staysafe. Only the confirmed cases, ‘yun lang po,” David Almirol, Multisys Developer, said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force and the National Task Force on COVID-19 is now looking to use the application for the whole country after it was launched in Manila over two months ago.

“It will help a lot of businesses and individuals to go back to work and move around, one way or another, to be safe while outside of their premises,” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said.

Once installed, the user will answer a health reporting system to determine if he or she has symptoms of the illness. Through the geolocation feature, an alert will automatically be issued when users with symptoms go near another user.

The application may also generate its own QR code, allowing users to scan the code instead of manually entering their names and contact numbers when entering establishments.

StaySafe.PH may be used for free by private companies and local government units.

“Naka-live na po yan, any company, any organization, you can just click, request access, fill up the information and then there’s an email verification. After the email verification, you can now access the  back-end of staysafe,” Almirol said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News