Norway's Consumer Watchdog Slams Fitness Trackers Over Data Use
Norway's consumer watchdog, the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC), has filed a complaint against popular fitness tracker manufacturers Fitbit, Jawbone, Garmin, and Mio. The complaint argues for stricter limitations on how these firms use personal data collected by their devices.
The NCC's complaint follows a pattern of criticising companies for overly broad privacy policies. In 2016, it lambasted dating app Tinder for unclear and misleading data processing information. Norway serves as a cautionary tale for other countries, demonstrating the potential drawbacks of overly rigid data enforcement.
The NCC's approach may inadvertently discourage innovation. By focusing on legal compliance over consumer benefits, companies may struggle to find creative uses for data, like Jawbone's earthquake intensity quantification in 2014. The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, which Norway adheres to, might also hinder such innovative uses by requiring permissible data uses to be defined in advance.
The NCC's complaint highlights the need for a balanced approach to data protection. While tight enforcement is crucial, a focus on harmful abuses rather than prescriptive rules could encourage innovation and better serve consumers in the long run.
