Concerns Over Contact Tracing App

Sydney Martin learned more about legislation being worked on over concerns about the states contact tracing app.

As the state looks to ramp up it's contact tracing for coronavirus... one state legislator is worried about limiting people's rights because of it.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live this evening.

She learn more about legislation that's being worked on right now.

Today- state senator arthur orr told me his biggest concern is possibly limiting the movement or freedoms of people in the future because of someone being diagnosed with a disease that they came in contact with..

And he told me right now he's drafting a bill to prevent that.

Orr told me any legislation would protect people's privacy and freedom of movement because he doesn't want contact tracing through a cell phone app to be mandatory for people to use or for a contact tracer to show up at someone's door and force them to quarantine.

He told me if legislation was introduced and passed it would take away the power from the alabama department of public health to extend guidelines, they might not be able to under the law.

He said it's a balancing act to weight how much freedom we want to give up in the interest of public health.

My concern with all of this is where does it lead?

Right now the alabama department of public heatlh is making it all voluntary.

But they could at some point in the future say that it's mandatory."

Now orr told me he doesn't think anyone should be required to tell a contact tracer who they have associated with or been around..

And he doesn't think there should be mandatory home quarantines.

Orr told me he wants guidelines and for the topic to be debated in the public arena during the next legislative session which wouldn't be until february or in a special session if one was called before then.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31 news.