Few find significant value in the Corona app usage
German Public Skeptical About Corona-Warn-App's Effectiveness
A survey conducted by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen from June 23 to 25 among 1,227 eligible voters revealed mixed opinions about the Corona-Warn-App (CWA), the German government's contact-tracing app.
The app, which became available for smartphones last week, aims to provide information on close contact with a person infected with Corona. However, 56% of Germans, according to the ZDF Politbarometer published on Friday, doubt that the app will make a "significant" contribution to containing the pandemic in Germany.
The survey also showed that 38% of those surveyed expect a "significant" contribution from the CWA. Despite the high adoption rates—over 18 million active users and more than 1.2 million reported test results within the first 100 days—the app has faced criticism for being minimally effective in practice.
The app's privacy protections and anonymous data handling were considered strengths, and the official data protection impact assessment (DPIA) evolved significantly to address early methodological and legal shortcomings.
Regarding public opinion by political affiliation, supporters of the Greens, the FDP, and the AfD view the app critically. Greens supporters, known for prioritizing environmental and digital privacy issues, might be more supportive of the app in principle. FDP supporters, who typically advocate for digital innovation but also personal freedom, might exhibit a nuanced view. AfD supporters, who have generally exhibited skepticism toward government interventions and pandemic measures, are likely to be critical of the app’s effectiveness and necessity.
The Corona-Warn-App is seen as a well-intentioned but only moderately effective tool, with public opinion likely varying among political groups according to their stances on government measures and digital privacy. However, specific polling data by party affiliation is not available from the current sources.
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2
The Corona-Warn-App's impact on finance, such as potential savings from reduced healthcare costs due to rapid tracing, remains uncertain and under-researched, according to Source 1. Meanwhile, technology enthusiasts and advocates for digital innovation might be disheartened by the app's perceived lack of effectiveness, as reported in the survey, which could lead to a decrease in public adoption of future similar technologies, as suggested in Source 2.
