  Since the onset of the COVID-19's global spread we have been following the
debate around contact tracing apps -- the tech-enabled response to the
pandemic. As corporations, academics, governments, and civil society discuss
the right way to implement these apps, we noticed recurring implicit
assumptions. The proposed solutions are designed for a world where Internet
access and smartphone ownership are a given, people are willing and able to
install these apps, and those who receive notifications about potential
exposure to the virus have access to testing and can isolate safely. In this
work we challenge these assumptions. We not only show that there are not enough
smartphones worldwide to reach required adoption thresholds but also highlight
a broad lack of internet access, which affects certain groups more: the
elderly, those with lower incomes, and those with limited ability to socially
distance. Unfortunately, these are also the groups that are at the highest
risks from COVID-19. We also report that the contact tracing apps that are
already deployed on an opt-in basis show disappointing adoption levels. We warn
about the potential consequences of over-extending the existing state and
corporate surveillance powers. Finally, we describe a multitude of scenarios
where contact tracing apps will not help regardless of access or policy. In
this work we call for a comprehensive and equitable policy response that
prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, protects human rights, and
considers long term impact instead of focusing on technology-first fixes.
