The Government of Japan today released its contact tracing application for coronavirus for iOS & Android. The applications are based on the Exposure Notification Platform co-developed by Apple and Google and use Bluetooth to determine if users are in close contact with others who have tested positive for COVID-19.

While the list of app stores reads simply "COVID-19 Contact App," Japan refers to a COCOA app, which stands for COVID-19 Contact-Confirming App. Microsoft engineers were created, who were engaged in May after Google and Apple's conditions, and reportedly led the government to stop working for a larger business by a Tokyo-based team.

Conforming with Apple's and Google's monitoring program, the Government claims that COCOA does not store personal data such as location and phone numbers. Rather, it records encrypted data flagging phones for more than 15 minutes within 1 metre; if one individual reports positive testing for COVID-19, those other users are notified.

In recent months, different countries have been debating their approach to tracing devices, although other governments are demanding more data control than Apple and the Google APIs permit.

Following the original planning to develop a different system, Germany released its own application on the same platform, while the UK similarly backtracked this week on a proprietary NHS app.