FITBIT, A HEALTH-TRACKING FITNESS COMPANY that sells electronic wristbands enabling users to track physical activity, food intake, and weight, has hired major K Street lobbying firepower after privacy concerns were raised by Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) last month, reports The Hill. Schumer, who is chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, publicly voiced concerns that the highly detailed data stored by Fitbit could be shared with outside organizations due to inadequate privacy laws and Fitbit’s weak privacy policy. Fitbit immediately responded to criticism by hiring Heather Podesta + Partners that same day, according to lobbying disclosure forms, and changes are already being seen.
Fitbit has already updated its privacy policy – a change warmly and publicly received by Senator Schumer – and now will only share collected data with third parties when legally required to do so, or when the customer has chosen to allow it. This marks a significant change in privacy policy. Although Fitbit has stated all along that it does not sell user data, it declined to comment on whether or not it was sharing data with third parties without compensation. Fitbit has drastically toughened its own privacy policy, and although it claims the timing was a coincidence and that the policy was already being updated, the fact remains that Heather Podesta + Partners was hired directly after Senator Schumer’s criticism, and that major changes are being made.
While Schumer’s remarks seem to have pushed Fitbit into action, it is unclear whether or not other electronic fitness tracking companies will toughen their own privacy policies, or if tougher privacy laws will result. This is not the first time Fitbit has faced criticism regarding privacy policies, after an embarrassing situation back in 2011, but its lobbying efforts seem to be working rapidly and effectively.
Tags: Fitbit, Heather Podesta + Partners, Senate Rules Committee, Senator Charles Schumer
