Blockchain Application in Contact Tracing Mobile Apps amidst COVID-19: An Exploration of Privacy Implications
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In the throes of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, digital solutions like contact tracing mobile applications have taken center stage in managing the spread of the virus. Nonetheless, the advent of these tools has sparked significant privacy concerns due to the sensitive data they handle. This paper presents an exploration of an innovative solution to mitigate these privacy challenges—the incorporation of blockchain technology into contact tracing mobile apps. With blockchain’s defining characteristics of decentralization, transparency, and immutability, it holds a unique proposition for balancing privacy concerns and maintaining the effectiveness of these contact tracing instruments. This paper critically examines various blockchain usecases within these apps, scrutinizes their implications for user privacy, and offers a series of case studies that demonstrate their practical effectiveness. Our analysis indicates that, when implemented judiciously, blockchain technology can significantly elevate the privacy standards of contact tracing mobile apps, thereby promoting enhanced public trust and participation.
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