There was a situation where a new corona contact confirmation application that I did not remember installing on Android was included before I knew it

Like the official ' COCOA ' of the Japanese government, local governments around the world have released their own new coronavirus contact confirmation apps. The state of Massachusetts in the United States has also released its own new coronavirus contact confirmation app, but the Android version of this app is being installed on the smartphones of residents of Massachusetts without permission.

Massachusetts'MassNotify' COVID Android app auto-installed for some --9to5Google
https://9to5google.com/2021/06/19/massachusetts-massnotify-app/

Even creepier COVID tracking: Google silently pushed app to users' phones [Updated] | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/even-creepier-covid-tracking-google-silently-pushed-app-to-users-phones/

MassNotify, a new coronavirus contact confirmation app originally released by Massachusetts, continues to be installed on Android devices without the consent of the user. There are many reports from users who have installed the app without permission on overseas bulletin boards such as Reddit and Hacker News.

MassNotify's rating on Google Play is 1.2 out of 5, which is quite low, and in the comment section, 'Spyware ?! It will be installed automatically without consent. Open this app without an app icon. There is no way to see what you can do. '' This app was installed secretly on my daughter's device without consent or notification, because I use Google Family Link (pair rental feature). , My daughter couldn't install the app by herself. '

Exposure Notifications Settings Feature --MA --Apps on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.ma.covid19.exposurenotifications.v3

Google has developed a 'new coronavirus tracking system' in collaboration with Apple. This new coronavirus tracking system is integrated at the OS level with Android, the OS for smartphones developed by Google, and iOS, developed by Apple. At the same time, we are also releasing our own API to allow public health organizations to create dedicated apps that leverage the new coronavirus tracking system developed by Google and Apple.

Apple and Google Incorporate 'New Coronavirus Tracking System' into iOS and Android-GIGAZINE

MassNotify is an app created using APIs developed by Google and Apple. However, there are two versions of MassNotify, and there is no app icon etc. installed on the user terminal without permission, and Android terminal 'Settings' → 'Google' → 'COVID-19 exposure notification' It exists only in. The other version, which can be installed from Google Play, has an app icon and statistics, but has exactly the same basic functionality.

The reason users noticed that MassNotify without the app icon was installed was because they were asked to update the app on Google Play. In addition, it seems that some users who did not live in Massachusetts were among the users who automatically installed MassNotify.

When 9to5Google, a Google-related media, contacted Google about 'Mass Notify was installed on an Android device before I knew it,' 'In cooperation with the Massachusetts Public Health Service, users activate contact confirmation notifications directly from the settings of the Android device. This function is built into the device settings and automatically distributed from Google Play, so users do not need to install their own dedicated app. New Corona Virus Contact Confirmation Function Is a feature that only takes effect when the user opts in. Users can choose whether to enable this feature and whether to share information through the system. ' It seems that it was sent.

In response to the question 'Can Google install the app on the user's device without permission?', Ars Technica of overseas media said, 'When the user taps the install button on the distribution page of the app, Google actually Demands to push the app install via Firebase Cloud Messaging . Google has 24/7 access to your device, so your app can be installed at any time. What's even more surprising. The fact is that Google can also remotely uninstall apps, which is a feature that allows Google to remove malware remotely if things really get worse. '