Excerpt from Gadgets360 Article – Published on Aug 31, 2023
Google-owned fitness tracking company Fitbit is facing legal action over alleged violations of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy regulations. The Vienna-based digital rights group, Noyb (None Of Your Business), founded by privacy activist Max Schrems, has initiated complaints against Fitbit in Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Noyb has a track record of filing privacy violation complaints against major tech companies, leading to substantial fines. Fitbit’s alleged transgression revolves around compelling users to consent to data transfers outside the EU without providing an option to revoke that consent, thereby contravening GDPR guidelines.
Fitbit, known for its activity-tracking watches and subscription services, is in the spotlight due to its handling of sensitive health data. Noyb’s data protection lawyer, Bernardo Armentano, expressed astonishment at Fitbit’s failure to clarify its data usage, a requirement under the law.
The GDPR permits fines of up to 4 percent of a company’s global annual revenue for breaches. In the case of Google, with its 2022 annual revenue of $280 billion, this could entail significant penalties.
Noyb is pushing for Fitbit to disclose all necessary information about data transfers to users and allow them to use the app without being forced to consent to these transfers. Fitbit’s privacy policy currently stipulates that the sole means of withdrawing consent is by deleting one’s account, resulting in the loss of previously tracked workouts and health data.
This legal action underscores the growing scrutiny and accountability faced by tech giants regarding data privacy, as GDPR regulations continue to be a pivotal point of contention.
To delve deeper into this topic, please read the full article on Gadgets360.