Apple Watch Already Facing Questions Concerning User Privacy

[reden]

I wish Apple luck with that watch thing but I think it's going to be a hard sell.

It will be a niche thing for the geeks and extravagant.

This is great. I'll save this comment for the future, will be a good laugh.

 

[rtdunham]

This is why we can't have cool things.

If you're opposing regulation, you won't like this:

"Ayn Rand, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan walk into a bar. The bartender serves them tainted alcohol because there are no regulations. They die."

 

[caesarp]

How does a state AG even have jurisdiction to request a meeting with a company headquartered in CA about a product not even released yet? Our regulators have run amuck. Oh and last I looked, CT law does not cover health or medical info as part of personal information. Is this just a PR move?

 

[Gasu E.]

And no one blinked an eye when Samsung released their smartwatches with similar sensors?...

Because no one cared.

 

[Rigby]

I think they should send him ALL the developer documents (not just the HealthKit ones) and any and all marketing information available for the Watch and tell them all the info they need is in there

But it isn't. The available documentation is vague at best and provides no detail about how Apple treats health data, especially data stored in the cloud. Given how Apple's weak security policies have played a role in severe breaches in the past (such as the Matt Honan hack and the recent "fappening"), the AG's questions are justified.

 

[Gasu E.]

If you're opposing regulation, you won't like this:

"Ayn Rand, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan walk into a bar. The bartender serves them tainted alcohol because there are no regulations. They die."

Until now, I never realized that Ryan is an anagram of "Ayn R."

 

[centauratlas]

This is why we can't have cool things.

Yeah, the control-freak politicians know that everyone must be "too stupid to run their own lives so they have to do it for us."

 

[Traverse]

I'm more concerned with the privacy and security of Apple Pay.

 

[caesarp]

While this does just sound like someone trying to get their 15 minutes of fame by persecuting Apple, HIPAA laws in this country have incredibly strict standards. Apple does have to show the standards by which the information will be protected and secured to at least the minimum extent of the law, which varies by state sometimes. If this information will in fact be used to link up to hospitals and be transferred to a medical record, it will have to be done in an encrypted way.

The request is ridiculous given that the watch isn't even announced yet, but Apple will have to prove to the Feds that it has taken all of the necessary precautions. Knowing Apple, I am sure they have already thought of this and it won't be much of an issue.

HIPPA applies to medical providers. Not yourself gathering your own info for yourself. You can do what u want with your own health info. Neither apple nor you are bound by HIPPA regulations.

 

[rtdunham]

The US Government is long for GOD. They control all, know you're place in society for the Government will ensure you're prosecuted, or even executed.

I hate how much of a cespool government is. Just my /rant.

If only that damn govt would teach people to spell and punctuate!

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

If you're opposing regulation, you won't like this:

"Ayn Rand, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan walk into a bar. The bartender serves them tainted alcohol because there are no regulations. They die."

Regulation should be exercised in moderation. Like your opinions.

 

[caesarp]

We're talking HIPAA here. One of the advantages of HealthKit is that your medical team can monitor you and use your data. You have to give express consent for your physician to see your data as well as anyone they might want to share it with (like your spouse).

That's on the medical providers to follow HIPPA. Not you or apple. Regs only apply to covered entities. Generally health care providers. You can give whatever you want to your doctor. It's what they do with it thereafter that would be covered by HIPPA.

 

[gavroche]

hmm like abortion clinics? oh wait, those are republicans inserting themselves into private businesses...

I really wish MacRumors had an effective way to prevent nonsense political crap from a technology forum. So tired of reading this crap.

 

[nsayer]

"Last year, Attorney General Jepsen met with representatives from Google, Inc. following a similar request to address questions about the privacy protections of Google's wearable computing device, Glass. Through that meeting and subsequent communications, Google implemented a policy requiring review and approval of third-party applications developed for the device before they would be made available to users."

Well, since Apple already does that, then that clearly means that Jepsen can go look for a life somewhere else.

 

[s15119]

How does a state AG even have jurisdiction to request a meeting with a company headquartered in CA about a product not even released yet? Our regulators have run amuck. Oh and last I looked, CT law does not cover health or medical info as part of personal information. Is this just a PR move?

Anyone can request anything. You don't need "jurisdiction" to make a request.

 

[caesarp]

Anyone can request anything. You don't need "jurisdiction" to make a request.

But it's absurd. CTs personal info law doesn't even deal with health info. Who does he think he is? It's a PR gambit. Apple could ignore him.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I am a progressive. I believe in government. But this is just more grandstanding and possibly an attorney general who just wants to be close to the celebrity of Apple.

We have botched executions, failing infrastructure, pandemics that could be reaching the US, little to no oversight of the pharmaceutical industry. To focus on an unreleased Apple watch as an elected official is trivial and possibly out of self-interest. If the government wants to focus on technology, focus on the byzantine systems the federal and state governments have in place for citizen services.

 

[Boatboy24]

"Connecticut AG Tries to Score Lunch with Tim Cook Without Spending Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Charity Donations."

There, fixed it.

 

[G4R2]

Publicity stunt.

 

[Arndroid]

By the way, if this letter was sincere, why was it made public?

Undoubtedly every state ag in the US sends of hundreds if not thousands of such inquiries regularly. They don't announce them all publicly.

 

[IJ Reilly]

HIPPA applies to medical providers. Not yourself gathering your own info for yourself. You can do what u want with your own health info. Neither apple nor you are bound by HIPPA regulations.

The act is HIPAA. No hippos were harmed in the making of this law.

What's covered by HIPAA is often exaggerated. To hear some tell it, saying "gesundheit" when someone sneezes is a violation. That said, if Apple does start storing or transmitting personal health data, they would very much be bound by HIPAA. In fact, protecting the privacy of electronic medical data records is the purpose of the law.

 

[miketcool]

 

[IJ Reilly]

That's on the medical providers to follow HIPPA. Not you or apple. Regs only apply to covered entities. Generally health care providers. You can give whatever you want to your doctor. It's what they do with it thereafter that would be covered by HIPPA.

Generally, but not exclusively. They actually apply to anyone who collects personal medical data.

Again, HIPAA.

 

[Hieveryone]

I'll be buying a gold one with an aftermarket 18-22 karat gold band.

But if privacy is an issue, I will keep my money.

I don't want nobody stealing my info especially the government.

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image

classic and true!!!!1

 

[Gutwrench]

Meet George Jepsen!

Jane his wife.