Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with NPR this week that Apple is a company that people can trust when it comes to sensitive information. Cook testified that Apple has always avoided selling user data, which is what he and other executives in the company have been echoing.
UCSD Health's chief information officer said that Apple's focus on privacy has made hospital officials feel more comfortable, as the patients' health and privacy are crucial. UCSD Health is convinced that all recorded data is stored locally and not uploaded to the cloud, which can help protect patients.
NPR's report also pointed out that some Health apps, such as period tracker or heart rate monitor, share data with Facebook to obtain targeted advertising, but Apple said that those apps will of course not be connected to Health Records. This is an advanced protection and limitation feature designed by Apple. Access to Health apps is usually only possible if the user explicitly authorizes them.
In an interview with NPR, Cook says acquiring user data to sell ads is something his company has avoided. "People will look at this and feel that they can trust Apple," he says. "That's a key part of anyone that you're working with on your health."Apple executives have long emphasized that the Users are not the "Products", and that's a significant difference between Apple and other companies like Facebook and Google, which rely specifically on user data for the purpose of marketing and monetization.
UCSD Health's chief information officer said that Apple's focus on privacy has made hospital officials feel more comfortable, as the patients' health and privacy are crucial. UCSD Health is convinced that all recorded data is stored locally and not uploaded to the cloud, which can help protect patients.
NPR's report also pointed out that some Health apps, such as period tracker or heart rate monitor, share data with Facebook to obtain targeted advertising, but Apple said that those apps will of course not be connected to Health Records. This is an advanced protection and limitation feature designed by Apple. Access to Health apps is usually only possible if the user explicitly authorizes them.