Who Owns Your Health Data?
Companies are denying people access to their own data as security risks run rampant
Today, much of our lives — and our health — is observed digitally. We discuss what’s for dinner with our families and our dieting apps. Athletes improve their performance with the help of their watches’ personal metrics. Mothers watch their babies grow both in the flesh and on their screens. People with diabetes can go about their day at ease, having precise knowledge of their blood sugar levels. And some people have even reported developing new senses from meticulously tracking their health.
We now have mobile health devices that are very attuned to our bodies, capable of detecting the subtle changes in our heart rate and sleep cycle. These devices offer us a new avenue to view our health on a daily basis, yet strict corporate data policies often stand in the way of our ability to make use of our data in the context of our own health.
Many people will use a device or download an app looking to address a specific health problem or develop a good habit. But in practice, users struggle to see what their data could mean for their health beyond post-workout reports and heart rate graphs. People with chronic conditions might want to use their devices to help track long-term changes in their condition but are forced…
