Apple is making a bid for its customers' healthcare data by launching a new"Research app" which will collect information from iPhone and Apple Watch users and share it with academic studies.
The app is being pitched to Apple's estimated billion customers as a way to"contribute to groundbreaking research studies". It is an opt-in programme which will share the data captured by Apple's existing monitoring of users' menstrual cycles, electrocardiogram sensoring, as well as a decibel measure to analyse the noise of the environment.This data could be used in academic studies to improve the design of healthcare provision, which could then allow Apple to develop related apps.
While annual sales of iPhones are declining for the Cupertino-based company, this is being offset by growing sales of Apple Watches, as well as other accessories and services.
So they want user’s data for free? That they will either sell on or use to make more products to sell...
But only during a free period... 😏
I do not trust Apple to not use the collected data for other purposrs. Or to share without notice.
Brilliant idea. This is what you call a modern gold mine. '...and share it with academic studies' sure but mainly with pharmaceutical industry for fat $.
100% not invasion of privacy