Foreign tech-mag makes fatal 'overreach' claim over Aarogya Setu; quotes Rahul Gandhi

government's mobile application 'Aarogya Setu' app has been helping immensely to curb spread of Coronavirus crisis. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant revealed that to date, app has alerted over 650 hotspots across country and over 300 "emerging hotspots" as well. He added that app gives an accurate forecast of hotspots and it is also preventing origin of newer hotspots. Despite this, it continues to face an onslaught over privacy concerns and alleged state overreach, with famed MIT Techlogy Review w accusing it of things that are decidedly untrue, and quoting Rahul Gandhi to buttress its claims.

Speaking to ANI about Aarogya Setu app, Amitabh Kant said, "For instance, in Maharashtra, engine identified over 60 hotspots across 18 districts. Across nation, engine predicted about 130 hotspots at sub-post office-level between April 13 to April 20. Later, se forecasted hotspots were declared as "real hotspots" by Union Health Ministry some 3 to 17 days after being alerted by Aarogya Setu. This way, engine helped government with "whom to test" and "where to test more" against coronavirus."

Read: COVID-19: Telangana police cautions about fraudsters creating fake Aarogya Setu apps

Over 96 million registered 

According to reports, over 96 million people have registered with Aarogya Setu health care application since its launch on April 2. According to Niti Aayog CEO, around  69 million people have taken self-assessment test, an adoption rate of more than 71 percent, out of which, over 3.4 million people have self-declared mselves as unwell since y were showing one or more than three symptoms. Meanwhile, at least 12,500 users have been detected positive for virus. He furr added that a team of over 70 healthcare workers have reached to people who are showing two or more symptoms. Kant also informed that over 16,000 people have been administered follow-up teleconsultation by doctors. 

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MIT Techlogy Review criticises Aarogya Setu

Amid this, MIT Techlogy Review, a tech magazine based in a country that has registered most coronavirus cases and deaths by far, has chosen to write a piece headlined: "India is forcing people to use its covid app, unlike any or democracy",  wherein it goes on to write about how Aarogya Setu app has accrued followers at an astonishing rate, quicker than Pokemon Go. It adds following line, before going on to quote Rahul Gandhi: "But although app’s growth is unprecedented, it is extraordinary in an even more important way: if you don’t install it, you might lose your job, get fined, or go to jail."

Over and above huge unsubstantiated claim that Indians are being jailed for t downloading app, article's big statements on democracy do t go whole hog in terms of providing an alternate recommendation. Perhaps MIT Tech Review prefers Indians only download Aarogya Setu App if y want to (which is case, though government strongly advises downloading it), such as how US President Donald Trump has made his own donning of face-mask optional. 

US has thus far reported 1.35 million Covid cases and 80,000 deaths. India has reported 59662 cases while 1981 people have succumbed. Aarogya Setu app is available for download in US, though t optimised for use re.

Aarogya Setu App

mobile application has been developed by Government of India to connect essential health services with people of India amid raging COVID-19 crisis. App is aimed at augmenting initiatives of Government of India, particularly Department of Health, in proactively reaching out to and informing users of app regarding risks, best practices, and relevant advisories pertaining to containment of COVID-19. It is available in 12 different langus and soon it is set to expand to all 22 scheduled Indian langus. 

Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India's cases rise to 59,662; 17,846 recoveries, 1,981 deaths

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