Apps to fight a crisis?

Manuel Trenz Photo: Gesche Quent Research project at Göttingen University investigates acceptance and effective use of coronavirus tracing apps How can apps like the Corona-Warn app help combat the pandemic? How can people use their data to help manage crises in our society without putting their data at risk of misuse? What role can technological configurations or government regulations play in the success of such apps? A research team at the University of Göttingen is addressing these questions. The Volkswagen Foundation has funded the "Participatory Surveillance" project for one and a half years with around 100,000 euros. Natural disasters - earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, or epidemics like SARS and COVID-19, or climate change - pose significant challenges to governments worldwide. In order to be able to react, detailed data on current events is always going to be necessary. "One possible approach could be to develop apps that actively involve citizens," explains Professor Manuel Trenz, Professor of Interorganizational Information Systems. "An example that affects us all right now is the use of coronavirus tracing apps. By sharing sensitive data, people can contribute, both actively and passively, in the fight against the pandemic.