Smartwatches and Weak Privacy Rules

[Commentary] Even before Apple announced a smartwatch that can measure someone’s heart rate and the number of steps climbed in a day, wearable devices and mobile apps that log your every move and vital sign were growing in popularity. Apple’s size and influence as a trendsetter has now focused attention on the privacy implications of these machines and software. No amount of caution can truly take the place of strong privacy laws that give consumers control over what kinds of data companies collect about them and what businesses can do with it, something President Obama called for in 2012. Federal lawmakers have not passed such legislation, in large part because businesses that collect and use private data for targeted marketing have lobbied aggressively to preserve the status quo. The country should welcome innovative health devices but should also make sure that they do not becomes tools to invade individual privacy.