Boston, MA — Google is force-installing a COVID-19 tracking application on some user’s phones without their consent.
The MassNotify Massachusetts COVID-19 contact tracing app is causing people major privacy concerns, according to reports.
The response from android users was overwhelmingly negative. People flocked to the Google Play store to leave scathing reviews about the force-installed application.
The app currently has over 670 reviews and an average rating of one out of five stars. It’s safe to say that both Google and the State of Massachusetts screwed up on this one.
One user likened the sneaky installation process to the indoctrination of children in many public schools.
“Like others said, no clue how this even got on my phone, thankfully I always manually update my apps so I caught this. Your intentions might be good but going about it in a sneaky way just raises HUGE red flags to me..much like how some public schools are going about teaching certain politically biased ideologies today. If you have nothing to hide you wouldn’t be hiding. Uninstalled after reporting.”
Another user pointed out that the tracking application was installed on their children’s device despite the family having set up protections to ensure all apps were approved before they were installed.
“This installed silently on my daughter’s phone without consent or notification. She cannot have installed it herself since we use Family Link and we have to approve all app installs. I have no idea how they pulled this off, but it had to involve either Google, or Samsung, or both,” the user wrote.
Here are some more reviews that were short and to the point.
You can read the rest of the overwhelming negative responses for yourself here. If you live in Massachusetts and this application was forcibly installed on your phone, you should be able to uninstall it using the review link.
Google’s actions are a major red flag because they go beyond just violating users’ consent to install an application.
Not only was the tracking application installed without users’ consent, but it was installed as the COVID-19 pandemic is winding down in the United States. Over 45 percent of the country is fully vaccinated, and that does not include those with natural immunity from contracting the virus.
Many Android users likely have no need for this government-controlled contact tracing software but might activate it without understanding what it does.
Bleeping Computer received this response when they reached out to Google about the shady application.
“We have been working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to allow users to activate the Exposure Notifications System directly from their Android phone settings. This functionality is built into the device settings and is automatically distributed by the Google Play Store, so users don’t have to download a separate app.”
So, Massachusetts and Google forcibly installed an application to track Android users’ locations, but it’s totally okay because you have to enable the application’s ability to track and share your information.
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Google can install an APP without your knowledge then they can track you without your permission. Science fiction movies about technology controlling the population of the world is no longer science fiction. Most people would rather give up their freedom than to give up their Tech convenience.
NoT me. I will give up the phone.
WRONG!
Are you replying to me by saying WRONG, or are you expressing disgust at Google by telling them it’s wrong for them to do that? I’m not surgically attached to my phone like most people are, watch what apps I have, and disable or delete all that I don’t use, which are 99% of pre-installed apps on the phone. Hey, the aluminum foil trick works. On another note, I don’t use Bluetooth. Don’t need it, so I disabled it, and check the apps I disable EVERY DAY to make sure they stay disabled. I am an extremely vigilant person, when it comes to privacy on my phone.
They wouldn’t have a chance on my phone. Pretty much ALL my apps are disabled. Location is disabled as well. I do nothing except talk and text, and when phone is shut off, I wrap it in aluminum foil for protection. Let’s see them get past aluminum foil. These older model starter “smart” phones are good for something. Who needs those hi-falutin’, edgy, three-camera, ultra-fast, $1200 dollar new jobs, if one just talks and texts. When I go out of town, I wrap it in foil so no one can track. No pings or nothing. It works. Kinda makes one want to go back to older-model DUMB phones, where that doesn’t happen.
I forgot to add that my Bluetooth is also disabled, as well. They can’t get to you if you have apps disabled or deleted. Most of my apps are disabled or deleted. I trust no one.
an other trial experiment in the never ending attempt to control people, install phone apps. with out the consent of the phone user. After the covid rules, government mandates is this the next step, in sheeple control. The government, along with the liberal/socialist had found out how easy it was to make rules, mandates to control the sheeple during the biological attack from the chinese military. I wonder how much more sheeple will except in the way of being controlled, how many more rights will sheeple give up, as the liberal/socialist with the weight of the government put in to place more constriction on sheeple?
All of this tyrannical, totalitarian tactics are in direct violation of our Constitutional rights and laws. Our Congress, those who follow the Constitution, must end these violations and uphold our Constitutional rights and their oath of office.
Good not done here in CA, awesome Agree hate force fed apps on phone
I have been warning everyone for years now. WE ARE LIVING UNDER COMMUNIST RULE. This Communist / Nazi government in DC has completely given this country away to China and Russia. I want all of you reading this to mark my word this day, 95 percent of our so called freely elected people in DC Hate America. I challenge anyone to give me one thing since the Dem / Communist have taken full control of our Government that has been good for AMERICA and we the People. ONE Thing. I will ask, is Shutting down the Wall?, Stopping our Pipeline?, Open our borders to all and any criminal?, open door to sex Trafficking?, Just giving money to anyone who hates America?, Stopping all oil drilling they can?, Letting all big tech get away with complete and full Censorship of anyone they choose?, Media Lying to us for 5 years now about everything. So are any of these things good for America. HELL NO!! So if you are still believing this Gov. gives a RATS ASS whether you live or die, have a job to support you and your family you have been completely brainwashed to believe anything the Left tells you. And now give me facts that will show Trump did anything to hurt America or you. TELL ME FACTS. Don’t just spout out he lied, or I did not like his tweets, GIVE ME one Example of something TRUMP did that was bad for America. Anyone got the Balls to try. I can give you more examples of what Joe has already done, I already gave you 8. Anyone got the balls to dispute anyone of the 8 hate America things Joe has done so far? If you voted for Joe then you too must hate America. One Idiot told me we at least have a president that goes to church, WRONG!! What else you got. There is not one thing the Media told you about Trump that was True. And now they are just lying to you daily about what a great guy Joe is. Joe and his son are so corrupt they have stolen billions from America and the Media is silent. OH! now Hunter is suddenly an Artist so now they can claim Russia, China, Ukraine who ever they want can buy one of his so-called paintings is worth a Million, 5 Million, a Billion what ever they want just so they can Launder any amount of money they want right back into the Biden family. The corruption never ends. And I will say at least half of the so called Republicans might as well just change the R to a D in front of their name also. Because they are just as guilty as the rest. Who in DC loves America, Not the Congress, Not the Swampreme Court, Not the FBI, Not the CIA, Not the Brass in the Military, when all these people get sworn in they swear to defend this country from all enemies Foreign and Domestic. And only a very few are even trying. I hate to say the truth, but America is gone, they are even trying to take away your money and put it all on digital so they can track you and if you do not obey they can shut your account down in a Second and you will have nothing. Think about it if everything you own and have is only on Big Techs computers how long do you think you have left before you say or do something they do not like and they shut you OFF. This is a small version of the Terminator with Big Tech. But so far they have not sent something to kill you yet. BUT they have destroyed peoples lives by locking a lot of you down like you are convicted criminals. And not letting you run your Business so you can support yourself. Instead have chosen certain businesses that were ALLOWED to stay open. FUCK YOU DC. Whether you realize it or not this whole congress is now controlled by Nancy, nothing is allowed to happen in DC unless the BITCH Okays it. So all I can say if you do not vote against any Dem. running and a lot of the RINOS, and we can get some people in congress who care about America, we will never get our freedoms. The problem is the Left has learned how to cheat nation wide on Elections and mark my word they will create another killer virus just before 2022 election time. That is why I will never take the VAX from a government who created this man made Virus and helped release, and then cover up the whole lie through the little Nazi Fouci. He funneled the money to help create a virus that has killed many, And you think I will ever trust a gov. VAX from the same. NO WAY IN HELL!!!! PROVE ME WRONG Morons.
I live in Alabama but visited Connecticut last week. I kept getting COVID notices like this. I read this article, checked my phone and found the app installed on my iPhone. It’s not showing up as an app icon, but found it under settings, notifications. I disabled it but can’t delete it.
Turn OFF your Location. They track you through Location. Turn OFF your Bluetooth. You can live without Bluetooth. Same with Location. I do, and function just fine.
I delete any app I cant use or dont use use for.
Im selective on apps IE Map, wildfires etc.
Make SURE your Location and Bluetooth are disabled. That’s how the government, Google, and just about everyone else can track you. Make use of aluminum foil when travelling. The towers cannot ping you, cause they can’t get through the foil. Google can’t either. If you value your privacy, you can get used to not having either one of those two apps usable.
Put your phone in the microwave and close the door so that the tracking device inside your phone cannot be located. The federal gestapo won’t be able to locate your phone when it is inside a faraday cage.
80 million Americans feel the way you do. We are living in a twilight zone folks and there is nothing funny or hidden about what is going on.