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Coronavirus

Japan's COVID contact-tracing app doomed by poor leadership

Layers of outsourcing left volunteer developers neglected and bugs unfixed

Japan's health ministry was responsible for the Cocoa app, but was found to have failed to manage it properly. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
RYOHEI YASOSHIMA, Nikkei staff writer | Japan

TOKYO -- Japan is pulling the plug on its Cocoa contact-tracing app after a two-year run plagued by leadership failures from development to implementation, teaching the government bitter lessons about working effectively with the private sector.

The decision by Digital Minister Taro Kono was announced Tuesday.

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