Document is current

Article History

Received: 22 October 2025

Accepted: 26 April 2026

First Online: 11 June 2026

Declarations

:

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: The present section of the document addresses the critical concerns surrounding data protection and user privacy in the context of the DCT application build under the funding of the National Council of Science and Technology CONCYTEC ”Special Projects: Response to COVID-19”, through project No 70744: ”COVID: COntrol de VIrus Dinamico”. Given the nature of the application, which collects sensitive information such as personal identifiers, location data, and infection history, ensuring user privacy is paramount. To mitigate these concerns, the DCT tool implements several measures: (1) Upon registration, users’ personal information–including names and ID numbers–is transformed into an anonymized identifier using a SHA-256 hash function. This process aims to protect individual identities while still allowing for effective contact tracing. (2) The application was designed to retain data only to fulfill its public health objectives. This includes location data and contact history, which are crucial for identifying potential exposure risks. (3) Participation in the DCT program is voluntary, requiring explicit consent from users to collect and process their data. Users are informed about what data will be collected and how it will be used, empowering them to make informed decisions. Despite these protective measures, challenges remain regarding public trust and the potential for misuse of collected data. Privacy concerns have been cited as significant barriers to user adoption of DCT technologies. As such, ongoing efforts to educate the public about data security practices and the benefits of participation are essential to enhance user engagement and ensure the effectiveness of the DCT application in managing public health crises.