The Hidden Risks in Health App Privacy Policies

Health and wellness apps have surged in popularity, but their privacy practices are often murky. An analysis of 10 top apps — from fitness trackers to meditation and period-tracking apps — reveals that most collect far more data than necessary and reserve the right to share it with advertisers or data brokers.

For example, a 2023 report by the Mozilla Foundation found that several period-tracking apps shared sensitive information — like cycle dates and mood logs — with third-party marketing firms. Few apps provide meaningful options to opt out of such data sharing.

The policies themselves are often difficult to understand, written at a high reading level and buried under layers of legalese. This leaves users unaware of how their intimate health data is used.

Experts advise choosing apps that:

• Clearly state they don’t share data with third parties.
• Offer end-to-end encryption.
• Have transparent, plain-language privacy policies.

More importantly, advocates are pushing for stronger legal protections for health data not covered by HIPAA.