NYC Now Has Its Own Covid Vax App

New York City is rolling out a new Covid app intended to make it easier to share personal vaccine and testing status.

The NYC Covid Safe app uploads copies of a user's photo ID, vaccination card, and any negative Covid test results from the prior week. No verification that the documents are legitimate is needed. Mayor deBlasio says the app can be used by restaurants and other businesses to screen visitors.

But Albert Fox Cahn of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project says it's just a high-tech version of the phone's camera app. 

"I uploaded a photo of Mickey Mouse when I registered for it and then it gave me a pop up box saying are you affirming this is accurate," he said. "You click yes. And then you're done."

New York State also has its own Excelsior Pass app, which verifies vaccine status with a state database.

Officials say the new app is ideal for unvaccinated city workers, who will soon be required to get tested weekly if they're not vaccinated.