Sen. Schumer calls for greater privacy measures for FitBit, health apps data

Sen. Charles E. Schumer is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen rules so health data from fitness bracelets, like FitBit, cannot be sold without consumer consent.  

Currently, companies that manufacture fitness bracelets, or app companies, can gather and sell highly personal data, like steps per day, sleep patterns, calories burned, GPS locations and even weight and blood pressure, without users’ knowledge or consent, creating a “privacy nightmare,” he said.

The FTC should require fitness device and app companies to provide a clear and obvious opportunity to “opt-out” before any personal health data is provided to third parties, who could discriminate against the user based on that sensitive and private health information, the senator argues.

“If companies of fitness devices have the ability to sell personal health data to insurers, employers and others, users should be alerted and given the opportunity to decline. The FTC should require fitness devices and app companies to adopt new privacy measures that will help conceal the identity of individuals and develop policies to protect consumer information in the event of a security breach,” he said in a statement.

Also, in a letter to the FTC, Schumer called on the agency to investigate the vague policies used by these companies that make it impossible for health-conscious consumers to make an informed choice about privacy, and to clarify that it is an unfair or deceptive trade practice when a company fails to state clearly to consumers whether personal data may be sold to third parties for advertising or other purposes.