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Headache smartphone applications (apps) shared information with third parties, posing privacy risks partly because there are few legal protections against the sale or disclosure of data from medical apps to third parties. This is according to a recent study that sought to assess whether there are privacy issues surrounding apps and the potential privacy implications of how the app companies (and other third parties) might use that information. Researchers conducted a systematic search of the most popular “headache” and “migraine” apps and developed a database of the types of data the apps requested for input by the user, and whether the apps had clear privacy policies. They also examined the content of the privacy policies and found:
- Twenty-nine apps were examined (14 diary apps, 15 relaxation apps).
- Of the diary applications, 79% (11/14) had visible privacy policies.
- Of the diary apps with privacy policies, all (11/11) stated whether or not the app collects and stores information remotely.
- A total of 55% (6/11) stated that some user data were used to serve targeted advertisements.
- A total of 11/15 (73%) of the relaxation apps had privacy policies.
Minen MT, Stieglitz EJ, Sciortino R, Torous J. Privacy issues in smartphone applications: An analysis of headache/migraine applications. [Published online ahead of print July 4, 2018]. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13341.
Headache smartphone applications (apps) shared information with third parties, posing privacy risks partly because there are few legal protections against the sale or disclosure of data from medical apps to third parties. This is according to a recent study that sought to assess whether there are privacy issues surrounding apps and the potential privacy implications of how the app companies (and other third parties) might use that information. Researchers conducted a systematic search of the most popular “headache” and “migraine” apps and developed a database of the types of data the apps requested for input by the user, and whether the apps had clear privacy policies. They also examined the content of the privacy policies and found:
- Twenty-nine apps were examined (14 diary apps, 15 relaxation apps).
- Of the diary applications, 79% (11/14) had visible privacy policies.
- Of the diary apps with privacy policies, all (11/11) stated whether or not the app collects and stores information remotely.
- A total of 55% (6/11) stated that some user data were used to serve targeted advertisements.
- A total of 11/15 (73%) of the relaxation apps had privacy policies.
Minen MT, Stieglitz EJ, Sciortino R, Torous J. Privacy issues in smartphone applications: An analysis of headache/migraine applications. [Published online ahead of print July 4, 2018]. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13341.
Headache smartphone applications (apps) shared information with third parties, posing privacy risks partly because there are few legal protections against the sale or disclosure of data from medical apps to third parties. This is according to a recent study that sought to assess whether there are privacy issues surrounding apps and the potential privacy implications of how the app companies (and other third parties) might use that information. Researchers conducted a systematic search of the most popular “headache” and “migraine” apps and developed a database of the types of data the apps requested for input by the user, and whether the apps had clear privacy policies. They also examined the content of the privacy policies and found:
- Twenty-nine apps were examined (14 diary apps, 15 relaxation apps).
- Of the diary applications, 79% (11/14) had visible privacy policies.
- Of the diary apps with privacy policies, all (11/11) stated whether or not the app collects and stores information remotely.
- A total of 55% (6/11) stated that some user data were used to serve targeted advertisements.
- A total of 11/15 (73%) of the relaxation apps had privacy policies.
Minen MT, Stieglitz EJ, Sciortino R, Torous J. Privacy issues in smartphone applications: An analysis of headache/migraine applications. [Published online ahead of print July 4, 2018]. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13341.