Wellness trackers collect a lot of personal information, so it is natural to ask: who gets to see this data? Understanding how your information is protected is a key part of feeling comfortable with wellness technology. This article explains the essential privacy measures that reputable companies use to keep your data safe.
You Are in Control
The most important principle of data privacy is user control. Reputable wellness platforms are built on the idea that your data is yours. This means you have the power to decide what information is collected, how it is used, and who it is shared with. You can typically manage these settings in the app associated with your device.
How Your Data Is Protected
Several layers of security work together to protect your health information.
- Encryption: When your data is sent from your device to the company's servers, it is encrypted. Think of encryption as a secret code that only your device and the server can understand. This prevents unauthorized parties from reading your information while it is in transit. Your data is also encrypted when it is stored on the servers.
- Anonymization and Aggregation: For research purposes, companies may use data from many users to identify broad health trends. When they do this, they use anonymized and aggregated data. Anonymization removes all personal identifiers, like your name and email. Aggregation combines your data with that of thousands of others, so it is impossible to single out any one individual.
- Strict Access Controls: Within the company, only a limited number of authorized employees can access user data, and only for specific purposes like customer support. These employees are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
Sharing Data with Other Apps
Many wellness apps allow you to share your data with other health and fitness services. This is always your choice. When you connect two apps, you will be shown what specific data will be shared and asked to approve the connection. You can revoke this access at any time through your account settings.
What Companies Will Not Do
A trustworthy wellness company will be clear about its policies and will not do certain things with your data.
- Sell Your Personal Data: Reputable companies will not sell your personally identifiable information to advertisers or data brokers. Their business model is based on selling devices and subscription services, not your data.
- Share with Your Employer or Insurer Without Consent: Your individual health data will not be shared with your employer or insurance company without your explicit permission. Corporate wellness programs use aggregated, anonymous data to track overall trends, not individual performance.
How to Protect Your Own Data
You also have a role to play in keeping your data safe.
- Use a strong, unique password for your account.
- Be cautious about connecting third party apps and review their privacy policies.
- Regularly check your account's privacy settings.
Conclusion
Your wellness data is personal, and it deserves strong protection. By understanding the privacy measures that are in place and taking a few simple steps to secure your account, you can confidently use technology to support your health journey while knowing your information is safe.