Recent news has caused Fitbit users to become angry and frustrated. After Google revealed plans to purchase the Fitbit health tracking device and its associated data, many users were outraged at the potential implications of their health data being collected and shared by a third party.
Google announced that it planned to acquire Fitbit for $2.1 billion, and for many people, this news sounded like a cause for concern. Google has a long history of collecting and storing data, and this acquisition will give them access to a large trove of personal user information. Google has promised not to use this data to sell personalized ads, but many Fitbit users have expressed dissatisfaction with this promise, feeling that Google cannot be trusted with their data.
Google’s solution to this problem has been to give users the option to delete their data before the transfer to Google takes place. While this may seem like a good solution, it is really only a temporary fix. Once the data is gone, it is gone forever, and if users decide to transfer the data to Google later on, they will have to deal with the same potential privacy issues they had before.
The best solution for Fitbit users who are unhappy with the acquisition would be to find an alternative health tracking device. There are plenty of options available, ranging from the simple and inexpensive to the complex and expensive. Users should research their options and find a device that suits their needs and values.
For now, Fitbit users will have to wait and see how Google responds to this issue. But regardless of how Google chooses to address it, Fitbit users should be aware of their rights and protections when it comes to their health data. If a data transfer to Google does take place, users should ensure that the process is secure and that the data is handled responsibly.