I will cut to the chase.
There are reports that Google works with China on some info-gathering projects and changed their algorithms to affect the election. I just hope the VA ensures that all the veterans who participate in the project have their personal AND health information protected and maintained under HIPPA and other laws.
But, Google made these assurances to get the deal approved – “Google has agreed not to use Fitbit users’ health and location data for advertising, following an investigation into the sale by the European Commission. With this in mind, the deal was approved in December.” Remember Trust but Verify?
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today a new initiative with Fitbit that will provide eligible Veterans, caregivers and VA staff with access to Fitbit programs and services to help manage stress, improve sleep and increase physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative will be focused on participants who currently use Fitbit devices.
VA has contracted with Fitbit to initially provide 10,000 eligible Veterans, caregivers and VA staff a one-year free membership to Fitbit Premium. This includes access to guided programs, hundreds of workouts, mindfulness content, a wellness report and a health metrics dashboard. Participants will also have access to Fitbit Health Coaching, one-on-one coaching and guidance from a certified health coach or licensed health professional.
Eligibility will be based on various factors such as whether an individual is a Veteran, already a Fitbit user and their location. Additionally, some Veterans who currently receive VA health care may be eligible to receive a Fitbit Sense, Fitbit’s most advanced health smartwatch.
“This initiative is an example of the way VA is successfully adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It also ensures the department continues to provide efficient, quality and timely care.”
VA is also working with Veteran service organizations and community-based organizations to explore how wearables and other digital health technologies can help Veterans and VA health care teams meet their health care needs.
As VA and Fitbit assess the feedback from the program and the outreach efforts, they will consider new ways to help support the health and wellbeing of Veterans. To learn more about the initiative and eligibility, . . . .
From Forbes.com magazine (emphasis added) —Google Confirms Fitbit Deal: Here’s What It Means
It’s clear Google has aspirations in the health space. In 2019, it emerged that Google’s partnership with healthcare firm Ascension allowed it to access vast troves of U.S. citizen’s health data.The Wall Street Journal reported that the machine learning based project, codenamed Nightingale, was based on “tens of millions” of medical records secretly harvested by Google containing test results, prescriptions and more.
The Fitbit deal could have potentially given Google access to a huge amount of data. But Google has agreed not to use Fitbit users’ health and location data for advertising, following an investigation into the sale by the European Commission. With this in mind, the deal was approved in December.
As for me, I trust not Google, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and other big tech “corporacrats” who now elitist oligarchs who now give us free toys as a precursor of taking over.
Just another reminder that Privacy matters, and the federal government MUST pass laws/regulations to insure this data is not mined and distributed. And should it reach a foreign power stiff criminal penalties attach.