At a time when Facebook is facing scrutiny over compromising the personal data of its users, a tool that asks users to disclose sensitive information is bound to heighten concerns about privacy.
Facebook is seeking to expand into health care, but it's naturally prompting concerns about privacy.
The social media giant has unveiled a tool that will encourage people to get cancer screenings, flu shots and other important preventative care.
"Our initial focus is on the top two leading causes of death in the US: heart disease and cancer, (according to CDC) as well as the flu, a seasonal illness that affects millions each year," explains the company in a message posted online Monday.
However, in order to identify people most likely to benefit from these services, the tool will request personal information, from age, weight, height and the results of cholesterol tests.
At a time when Facebook is facing scrutiny over compromising the personal data of its users, a tool that asks users to disclose sensitive information is bound to heighten concerns about privacy.
The company promises that privacy is a priority.
"Preventive Health allows you to set reminders for your future checkups and mark them as done, but it doesn't provide us, or the health organizations we're working with, access to your actual test results," says the company. "Personal information about your activity in Preventive Health is not shared with third parties, such as health organizations or insurance companies, so it can't be used for purposes like insurance eligibility."
The company also assures users that they won't see ads on Facebook based on the information they provide to the health tool. However, Facebook has already been using health information to market to users based on data that third-party apps have been providing the social network.
The problem is, Facebook's stated promise to not share health data with others does not assure users that their information is necessarily safe. There will continue to be concerns about hackers or third-party apps manipulating users to access the data, as was the case in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking benefits news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
