The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is pressing Apple on how it plans to use sensitive data from users collected through the company’s new Health app and upcoming Apple Watch wearable, according to a new report from Reuters.
Specifically, the report claims Apple has met with the FTC several times in recent months to “stress that it will not sell its users’ health data to third-party entities such as marketers or allow third-party developers to do so.” The meetings come as the FTC makes it a priority to keep a close eye on privacy concerns related to new health apps coming out on all platforms, according to Reuters.
Apple and the FTC didn’t comment specifically on the meetings, but Apple did provide the following comment:
Apple said it works closely with regulators around the world, including the FTC, to describe built-in data protections for its services. “We’ve been very encouraged by their support,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Reuters… “We designed HealthKit with privacy in mind”
Reuters does note, however, that there are no signs Apple’s talks with the FTC will turn into a formal investigation into Apple’s new healthcare related products. Apple is reportedly utilizing health data protection lawyer Marcy Wilder to consult on privacy issues related to its health products and also “considering appointing an in-house health privacy czar,” Reuters reports.
In September Apple published new developer guidelines for its HealthKit platform including requiring developers provide a privacy policy, not store health data in iCloud, and not use data for advertising or data mining, among other rules.
The news that Apple is facing scrutiny from the FTC over how it plans to handle health data comes ahead of the company’s new health and fitness focused Apple Watch smartwatch expected to launch in the Spring of next year.
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Are they scrutinizing google or samsung or any of the other health tracking app and hardware makers?
no because they know nobody is going to use them so why waste time and effort.
Please don’t continue to speak about things in which you have no clue/knowledge.
This reduces the credibility of all of your posts.
Pot, meet Kettle…
How much did this cost you, Larry Page?
The fact you’ve brought Google in to it (for no reason) appears to me like your trying to deflect this news away from Apple? Why? Do you have an ulterior motive? Are you in the pocket of those at Cupertino?
Of course your not – so stop thinking that any negative news about Apple is somehow generated by the Dark Masters of Google. It’s pathetic.
This really isn’t negative news for Apple… It is the FTC being the FTC and wasting money when they should be questioning the practices of those we know that collect data and sell if for a living… Thank you for trolling, Troll..
Pauly gets it! This is what the FTC spends their time on, not net neutrality or looking into the comcast-twc merger… Nope, the apple watch is the main threat here
This is exactly what the FTC should be doing.
There is no scrutiny, as this website says.
There are meetings to help Apple comply with the law.
I think net neutrality is an FCC issue.
really… most people are only going to keep track of active time, miles, calories and heart rate. maybe blood pressure. Google steals more health info knowingly than anyone as it reads everyones E-Mail.
BP, heart rate, etc. is medical information.
Google/Samsung are light years ahead of Apple in this area.
I hope that didn’t make your BP go up!
Meeting with = scrutiny?
This site has reached a new low in sensationalism.
Yes, Apple is being treated like everyone else. Stand by for this website to barf up Tim Cook’s email to employees about privacy.
An Apple hater that spends THIS much time on a fan site of a company he hates so much can only be doing this because he’s getting paid by a competitor to bad mouth them…
Can a mod, please, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, ban this POS once and for all?
I second that. but do what I do, ignore his posts until someone at 9to5mac takes action
Edison do you SERIOUSLY think Samsung, Google etc are going to pay anyone good money to come onto this website to a post with barely any comments on to criticise Apple?
Your a grown man for gods sake – people, no matter how annoying, are perfectly entitled to their opinion. If you read the comments on here most of the members, Apple users no less, try to spin it around to deflect criticism from Apple to Samsung, Android, Blackberry or whoever – you even do it yourself. Are you a paid up Apple shill, or are you like everyone else, just someone with an opinion?
Says the twirp that actually calls themselves a trolling their alias? LOL, go away idiot, you’re getting boring. At least herb is entertaining with his pure, unbridled stupidity…
Both Herb and Troll, troll be cause that is what fuels there life.. Could Herb be getting paid, maybe, but I would think it is more like he works at the local Best Buy Crapsung booth and just does this when he is waiting for his next shift…
What’s the matter, Edison, you aren’t threatening violence here anymore.
I guess the meds are working. Too bad they haven’t helped your IQ.
Once again you’re confusing yourself with me, stop looking in mirror when trolling, might make you more effective in your craft…
Just think … many people post comments in response to mine.
I wonder how that translates to additional clicks on the website?
So are you saying you’re actually working for 9to5Mac to help boost their clicks?
Cause that would be the dumbest thing they can do, this isn’t BGR…
Another mac rumor site had this sooner and without the hype.
And now we know that we aren’t the only ones that get the pleasure of reading your stupidity…
Anyone else see the irony in the federal government, known for illegally obtaining data and spying on the citizens, chiding a company known for doing everything it can to keep customer data secure?
I await the first class-action law suit from people who, after buying the Apple watch, then object to it doing what it was designed to do – i.e. collect health data.
Guys – if you don’t want anyone (govt.) to get hold of your health data – don’t buy a health tracker/watch of any kind.