From a NY Time editorial yesterday:
Even before Apple announced a smartwatch that can measure someone’s heart rate and the number of steps climbed in a day, wearable devices and mobile apps that log your every move and vital sign were growing in popularity. Apple’s size and influence as a trendsetter has now focused attention on the privacy implications of these machines and software.
It’s true that the devices could help some people lead healthier lives. The problem is that most of the medical and personal information collected by fitness trackers and apps is not protected by federal privacy laws. Beyond making promises, there is little to keep Apple and other businesses from using the information as they see fit.
Read more on NY Times. Where they say, “No amount of caution can truly take the place of strong privacy laws that give consumers control over what kinds of data companies collect about them and what businesses can do with it,” I’d replace the word “caution” with “voluntary self-regulation.”