[TheAdamAndChe]

It seems to me like their goal with FitBit is data acquisition. They already have a massive amount of location and purchase information from millions if not billions of people around the planet from Android, Google Search, and YouTube. If they can get information on health status too, they can probably further improve their advertising system to improve ad relevancy. They can use that information to make targeted investments. Plus that data would be worth an incredible amount to insurers and three-letter security agencies.

[v7p1Qbt1im]

Even if Google were to actually sell data (which they don‘t and never have. Selling targeting is way more profitable). They straight up legally couldn’t with health data because of regulation like HIPAA.

[nradov]

Google isn't a HIPAA covered entity in this context. The data gathered by consumer fitness trackers isn't legally considered protected health information under current federal regulation.

[v7p1Qbt1im]

Oh. I wasn‘t aware. Good to know, thx. That seems like an oversight.