Apple has been meeting with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the last few months to assure the agency that it is taking appropriate steps to keep user health data it collects via the new Apple Health app and the upcoming Apple Watch private, Reuters reported.
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Since the rise of fitness-minded smart accessories from major tech companies, the FTC has reportedly made efforts to assure that sensitive, health-related data isn't sold to advertisers or other parties. According to the Reuters report, 12 mobile apps that stored health-related data were found to have given this information to third parties in an FTC study.
Apple, however, has informed FTC officials that they are working to make sure a user's health and fitness data stays only with that user and is not sold to third parties, including advertisers. This also applies to third-party app developers that take advantage of Apple's new HealthKit API.
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Apple started its health kick with the release of the iPhone 6 and iOS 8. iOS 8 included the company's new Health app, which allows users to track their walking and running habits automatically. Using the iPhone 6's barometer, Apple Health can even track how much walking up and down stairs a users does in a day. The app also allows users to manually input nutrition data, providing a one-stop shop for the user's health data. For those who already have a favorite fitness app, the Health app can bring in information from these third-party programs via the HealthKit API, so users can still track their well-being with their app of choice while keeping everything centralized in Apple Health.
The final piece of Apple's health-tracking puzzle will come next year when the Apple Watch finally hits shelves. Apple's upcoming wearable will be able to track more health stats for the wearer, including heart rate. The Apple Watch is set for an early 2015 release.
