Fitbit has enlisted lobbying firm Heather Podesta + Partners to address its consumer and health privacy concerns after facing increasing scrutiny from Sen. Chuck Schumer and others in Congress, according to recently released public-disclosure records, NJ reports. Last month, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned Fitbit and other mobile health apps of a possible “privacy nightmare” waiting to happen for collecting sensitive data from its users that could potentially be sold to third parties. He is urging for federal regulation to protect consumers’ data from being shared without their knowledge(National Journal/Ryan/9/16/14). According to Schumer, “By tracking exercises, geolocation, and sleep patterns, mobile health devices collect private data “rich enough to identify the user’s gait.”
A company spokesman stated that the company has never sold personal user data. Last month, Fitbit amended its privacy policy last month to emphasize that it does not share data with outside parties, unless it is legally necessary, de-identified, or given explicit consumer consent.
“While our policy was updated, our practices have not changed. It has always been our policy not to sell user data. We have never sold personal data and we do not share personal data unless a user specifically directs us to do so, or under the limited exceptions described in our privacy policy,” a Fitbit spokesman said in a statement Monday.
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