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I'm just a little skeptical about how much value there is in this medical data given all the frameworks there already are in place to limit its use (HIPPA and s
by asdfasgasdgasdg 6y ago
I'm just a little skeptical about how much value there is in this medical data given all the frameworks there already are in place to limit its use (HIPPA and similar). Theoretically, what specific not already illegal thing could google do with this health data that would be harmful to consumers? Ought we just make those things illegal?
From all the evidence I think it's most likely that Google wants fitbit to compete with apple watches and other wearables. To me, it seems like consumers would on net benefit more from deep-pocketed competition with apple in the wearables market.
- kissickas 6y agoData collected on a FitBit (or any other device) is not regulated by HIPAA.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 6y agoThank you for pointing that out. If we believe that using such data for ad targeting would be a problem, it remains best to simply make that illegal. Preventing a particular acquisition seems like a roundabout and inefficient way to accomplish the goal, since it would not prevent Google from acquiring the data some other way, supposing they wanted to use it for targeting. And it prevents other potential benefits of an acquisition, such as more robust competition in the wearables market.
- NegativeLatency 6y agoI don’t think that a giant company (google) buying a smaller company is exactly increasing competition.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 6y agoDepends on how profitable the small company is by their own lights I guess. If they need capital to continue operations, it has to come from somewhere.
- nradov 6y agoJust to be pedantic, it's data purchased by any consumer wearable device that isn't regulated by HIPAA. Data recorded by devices provided, connected, or implanted by actual covered healthcare providers is regulated by HIPAA.