The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly in discussions with Apple over how the company plans to protect personal health information collected and stored on its forthcoming smart watch, according to this article. The device tracks the user’s pulse and could potentially release other sensitive, health-related data not covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to third parties.
Apple has stated it will not sell users’ data to third parties or allow third-party developers to sell that information, but the smart watch is part of a growing trend toward health-oriented wearable devices and mobile apps. The FTC is wise to be cautious: their recent study found that developers of 12 health and fitness apps were sharing confidential information with 76 different parties, including advertisers.
