When it comes to protecting user data, the manufacturers of smartwatches and fitness trackers are falling short.
This is according to new research from Vancouver-based nonprofit group, the Human Data Commons Foundation, which looked at the ways companies use the data collected from people who use these devices.
The 2019 Quantified Self Report Card reviewed the terms and privacy policies of 18 manufacturers of smartwatches and fitness trackers, and evaluated each on their regulations relating to legal rights, data collection and sharing, data access, and security.
The report revealed many companies create marketing profiles for their users by combining fitness data with information collected from social media platforms. Further, some shared this data with insurance companies, reports the Human Data Commons Foundation.
“There are many review sites comparing features and what it’s like to use the fitness trackers and smartwatches these companies make,” says Greg McMullen, co-author of the report. “We think it’s just as important to look at how the companies use your data.”
To access the report, click here.
