Lifestyle apps ‘can be mined for data’

Lifestyle and wellbeing apps such as those that record sleeping patterns and smoking habits may be mined by third parties for information that could be used to the detriment of the consumer, prompting doctors to call for greater data protection.

Members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) passed a motion at their AGM last night calling on the Data Protection Commissioner to inform both users and doctors that some lifestyle apps may reveal sensitive information about the health of an individual and to ensure that data privacy is strictly protected.

Dr Neil Brennan, outgoing chairman of the IMO’s international affairs committee, said doctors in medical organisations across Europe are concerned that sensitive information is ending up in the hands of commercial operators such as health insurance and life assurance companies without the permission of the individual to whom it pertains.