# Taiwan Social Distancing

> mobile app

**Wikidata**: [Q109258078](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109258078)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/taiwan-social-distancing

## Summary
Taiwan Social Distancing is a mobile app developed by Taiwan AI Labs and the Centers for Disease Control to help manage COVID-19 exposure notifications in Taiwan. The app uses Bluetooth technology to detect proximity between users and alert them if they've been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

## Key Facts
- Developed by Taiwan AI Labs (founded April 27, 2017) and the Centers for Disease Control
- Available on both Android and iOS platforms
- Licensed under MIT License
- Latest version 2.2.0 released June 2, 2022 (Android)
- Bundle ID: tw.gov.cdc.exposurenotifications
- App Store ID: 1554431836
- Google Play Store ID: tw.gov.cdc.exposurenotifications
- Programming languages: Java, Q3816639, Q2407, Q17118377
- Discontinued on December 31, 2023
- Source code available on GitHub repositories
- Age rating: 4+ on iOS App Store

## FAQs
### Q: What is Taiwan Social Distancing?
A: Taiwan Social Distancing is a mobile app that uses Bluetooth technology to detect proximity between users and notify them if they've been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. It was developed by Taiwan AI Labs and the Centers for Disease Control to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

### Q: When was Taiwan Social Distancing discontinued?
A: Taiwan Social Distancing was discontinued on December 31, 2023, after being available throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help with contact tracing and exposure notifications.

### Q: What platforms does Taiwan Social Distancing support?
A: Taiwan Social Distancing was available on both Android and iOS mobile operating systems, allowing it to reach a wide range of smartphone users in Taiwan.

## Why It Matters
Taiwan Social Distancing played a crucial role in Taiwan's COVID-19 response strategy by providing a technological solution for contact tracing and exposure notification. As one of the early adopters of exposure notification technology, Taiwan demonstrated how mobile apps could complement traditional public health measures during a pandemic. The app's development by Taiwan AI Labs, a government-backed research organization, showed how public-private partnerships could create effective health technology solutions. By using Bluetooth-based proximity detection rather than GPS tracking, the app addressed privacy concerns while still providing valuable exposure data to public health officials. The app's open-source nature, with code available on GitHub, also contributed to transparency and allowed for community review of the technology. Its discontinuation in 2023 marks the transition from pandemic emergency measures to post-pandemic public health strategies.

## Notable For
- One of Taiwan's primary COVID-19 exposure notification apps during the pandemic
- Developed through collaboration between Taiwan AI Labs and the government CDC
- Open-source with publicly available code on GitHub
- Used Bluetooth proximity detection rather than location tracking
- Licensed under MIT License, allowing for modification and redistribution

## Body
### Development and Background
Taiwan Social Distancing was created as part of Taiwan's comprehensive COVID-19 response strategy. The app was developed by Taiwan AI Labs, a research organization founded in 2017 that focuses on artificial intelligence solutions, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control. This collaboration between a tech research organization and public health authorities exemplifies how different sectors can work together during health emergencies.

### Technical Specifications
The app is built using multiple programming languages including Java and others (Q3816639, Q2407, Q17118377), and is distributed as a mobile application compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems. It uses Bluetooth technology to detect proximity between devices, allowing it to determine when users have been in close contact with each other without tracking their specific locations. The app has a bundle ID of tw.gov.cdc.exposurenotifications and is available through both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

### Version History
The app has undergone multiple updates since its initial release, with version 1.4.0 being the base version and subsequent releases including 1.5.0 (July 28, 2021), 1.6.0 (November 30, 2021), 1.7.0 (December 28, 2021), 1.8.0 (March 24, 2022), 2.0.0 (May 6, 2022), 2.1.0 (May 18, 2022), and 2.2.0 (June 2, 2022). The version history shows active development and improvement of the app's features and functionality throughout its operational period.

### Distribution and Access
Taiwan Social Distancing is distributed through major app marketplaces, with its Google Play Store ID and bundle ID both being tw.gov.cdc.exposurenotifications. The app is available for digital download and requires a touchscreen input device. It has an age rating of 4+ on the iOS App Store, indicating it's suitable for users of all ages. The app's source code is publicly available on GitHub repositories, promoting transparency and allowing for community review and potential modifications.

### Privacy and Licensing
The app is licensed under the MIT License, which is a permissive free software license that allows for modification and redistribution. This licensing choice aligns with the app's open-source nature and promotes transparency in its development and operation. The app's use of Bluetooth proximity detection rather than GPS tracking demonstrates a commitment to user privacy while still providing effective exposure notification functionality.

### Current Status
As of December 31, 2023, Taiwan Social Distancing has been discontinued. This discontinuation likely reflects the changing nature of COVID-19 management as the pandemic evolved and public health strategies adapted to new circumstances. The app's operational period spanned the most critical phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, providing valuable exposure notification services to the population during that time.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MobileApplication",
  "name": "Taiwan Social Distancing",
  "description": "A mobile app developed by Taiwan AI Labs and the Centers for Disease Control to provide COVID-19 exposure notifications using Bluetooth technology.",
  "operatingSystem": ["Android", "iOS"],
  "applicationCategory": "Health;COVID-19",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Taiwan AI Labs"
  },
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "0"
  },
  "datePublished": "2020",
  "dateModified": "2022-06-02",
  "dateDeleted": "2023-12-31",
  "license": "https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT",
  "sourceOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109258078",
    "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taiwan-social-distancing/id1554431836",
    "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tw.gov.cdc.exposurenotifications"
  ]
}

## References

1. [Release 1.5.0. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.5.0)
2. [Release 1.6.0. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.6.0)
3. [Release 1.7.0. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.7.0)
4. [Release 1.8.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.8.0)
5. [Release 2.0.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv2.0.0)
6. [Release 2.1.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv2.1.0)
7. [Release 2.2.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-android/releases/tag/Release%2Fv2.2.0)
8. [Release 1.5.0. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.5.0)
9. [Release 1.6.0. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.6.0)
10. [Release 1.6.1. 2021](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.6.1)
11. [Release 1.7.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.7.0)
12. [Release 1.8.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv1.8.0)
13. [Release 2.1.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/Release%2Fv2.1.0)
14. [Release 2.2.0. 2022](https://github.com/ailabstw/social-distancing-ios/releases/tag/2.2.0)
15. [Source](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taiwan-social-distancing/id1554431836)