The prime minister of Australia has sailed into controversial waters as he suggested a tracking app for mobile devices could be made compulsory in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

As PM Scott Morrison said, at least 40% of Australians should download the tracking app on their devices in order to make it worth it.

According to the PM, the app would be used for saving lives by tracing people who came in contact with individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

“My preference is to give Australians a go at getting it right. That’s my plan A and I really want plan A to work,” Morrison said in an interview with the Triple M.

“I know this would be something they might not normally do at an ordinary time but this is not an ordinary time. If you download this app you’ll be helping save someone’s life.”

While the prime minister assured that the authorities would not use the data obtained by the software to prosecute those who breach lockdown orders, there remain those who are concerned about their privacy and impacts that a compulsory app could have on their lives.

“One of the things that would occur if that was the government response would be people would simply stop taking their phone to places,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese told the reporters.

“It’s up to the government, frankly, to explain exactly what it has in mind with this app and to be very clear with the Australian public about whether it is going to be voluntary or whether it is going to be some level of compulsion involved.”

According to the reports, the app will use Bluetooth to trace people who had been in touch with infected individuals.

The software is being created based on TraceTogether, a sister version developed in Singapore.

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