Health apps now spy on users
If you use an app to track your exercise regime or calculate your calorie intake you may have a new symptom to fear. Personal information that users share with apps such as MapMY fitness, Web MD and iPeriod are being sold to insurance and drug companies, reveals recent reports.
Up to 70 third parties harvest data used by people who are tracking diets and even menstrual cycles, said privacy group Evidon. Jeff Chester executive director of Centre for Digital Democracy said that means some of the ‘most sensitive details of your life’ were available to others.
App companies have denied this reports and said it used for site analysis and adverting within apps. Regulations prevent sale of an individual medical records but some US firms have been accused of trying to bypass that by building health profiles from users information on apps.
Nearly 100 companies and individuals who have used rouge private detectives will be investigated by the data watchdog. The list has been handed to the information Commissioner’s office, which will examine whether laws were broken.
Andy Kahl director of data analysis at Evidon, warned some British developers may be doing the same. This simply would prove to be true the mantra that ‘if the product is free, then you are the product,’ he added.
Lets be on the look out for the free apps we go for, not only the health apps. It applies to every other app that collects your information. Beware!
Health Apps now spy on users
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