Apple explicitly states that consumer health information is off-limits to data farmers, as the tech firm has updated the language in the license for its HealthKit platform.
Developers who create software using Apple's HealthKit application programming interface (API) may only gather user data to enhance services clearly outlined in the associated apps' descriptions. Selling that data off to advertisers has been forbidden.
"Your application must not access the HealthKit APIs unless it is primarily designed to provide health and/or fitness services, and this usage is clearly evident in your marketing text and user interface," states Apple's HealthKit license. "You and your application may not use the HealthKit APIs, or any information obtained through the HealthKit APIs, for any purpose other than providing health and/or fitness services in connection with your application (eg not for serving advertising)."
Apple's HealthKit API in being cooked into the incoming iOS 8. HealthKit will feed an iOS 8 app with health metrics collected from sensors embedded in iPhones and wearable tech, such as the Fitbit and Jawbone UP smart bands.
Apple has opened up the HealthKit API to third-party developers, who could earn a fortune by selling to advertisers consumer biometrics and a broad, yet percise, range of demographic details.
Taking a firm and proactive stance on securing the privacy of user health data is a necessary move, as Apple, through its relationship with IBM, prepares to move its hardware deep into the heart of the health care industry.
While the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) lays a hard line for technology looking to enter the field of health care, perception of a tech firms' respect for privacy also plays a major role in the adoption of new hardware and software. Even if Apple's hardware complies with HIPAA regulations, a history of privacy breaches and misappropriating sensitive data would make medical professionals hesitant to pick up the tech.
Privacy has been a priority of Apple in iOS 8. Back in June, mobile developers discovered a security feature wrapped in iOS 8 that will protect users of the mobile OS from being tracked via Wi-Fi.
The feature scrambles media access control (MAC) addresses, unique identifiers for hardware, so that retailers and other data snoops wouldn't be able to log Apple devices on Wi-Fi networks. Each time a device using MAC address scrambling connected to a Wi-Fi network, the connected hardware would use a different identifier.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 6 on Sept. 9 in the tech firm's hometown of Cupertino, Calif. iOS 8 proper is expected to release some time around the launch of the iPhone 6.
