Mapping the Apps: Ethical and Legal Issues with Crowdsourced Smartphone Data using mHealth Applications

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Bioethics
• Data Science

Background:

• Smartphones generate unprecedented volumes of health data.
• Mobile health applications (apps) are increasingly used for health data collection and processing.
• This data is valuable for research and algorithm training but poses privacy risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how mobile health apps crowdsource user data.
• To identify ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with this data collection.
• To analyze the transparency and content of app privacy policies regarding data usage.

Main Methods:

• Examination of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in North America and Europe.
• Identification of apps potentially gathering health data via crowdsourcing.
• Analysis of privacy policies, terms of use, and related documentation for data utilization and repurposing.

Main Results:

• Identified 46 apps in European and Canadian markets that crowdsource health data or have the capability to do so.
• Found a significant lack of consistency and transparency in app privacy policies.
• Observed ambiguous or contradictory language regarding data sharing with third parties in most policies.

Conclusions:

• Inconsistent and ambiguous privacy policies challenge user comprehension, trust, and informed consent.
• Significant ethico-legal concerns arise from data sharing practices.
• Further academic and policy attention is needed to balance individual privacy with scientific utility of crowdsourced health data.