Fitness apps have become increasingly popular in the UK, with millions of users relying on them to track their workouts, runs, and diets. However, a new analysis by the data protection service Incogni has revealed that these apps are collecting an average of 14 personal data points about their users, which can then be sold to data harvesters.
The analysis found that the exercise tracker Fitbit is the most data-hungry app, collecting a total of 21 data points from its users. Other popular apps like Strava, AllTrails, and MyFitnessPal also collect a significant amount of personal information, including users’ photos and precise current location.
What’s concerning is that some of these apps are sharing this data with third parties, such as data brokers, who then sell it on to insurance companies, advertisers, and public bodies. This means that users’ personal information, including their location, photos, and health and fitness details, could be ending up in the hands of unknown entities without their knowledge.
Incogni’s report, titled ‘Exercising caution: how top fitness apps in the UK can compromise your privacy,’ highlights the need for users to be aware of what information they are sharing with these apps. Darius Belejevas, head of Incogni, warns that sensitive health and fitness information is highly valuable to data brokers and emphasizes the importance of using a data protection service to safeguard one’s privacy.
As the demand for wearables and fitness apps continues to increase, it is crucial for users to understand the privacy implications of using these apps and take steps to protect their personal information.