Tina White

Three screens depict Covid Watch's interface and its information on the coronavirus spread.

China made quick use of a surveillance app to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The government there has tracked some people using a color-coded system — green, yellow or red — depending upon their risk-level for COVID-19. But the system has raised serious privacy concerns, and now human rights advocates are worried it may become permanent.

When Tina White heard about this, it prompted her to take action.

White is a Ph.D. student at Stanford working on machine learning and a University of Arizona alum.

After she read about China’s app, she created her own.

Covid Watch allows for contact tracing of anyone who might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, but while protecting your personal information.

Now it’s being piloted by the University of Arizona and could be used statewide soon.

The Show spoke with White for more about it.

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