In settlement, app makers change their tune on health benefits and privacy

Enlarge / Young woman checking her running results at the smartphone (credit: Getty | AleksandarNakic)

Makers of three popular health apps are changing their tune about the capabilities and privacy policies of their products following an investigation and settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office.

The makers of Cardiio, Runtastic, and My Baby’s Beat apps all agreed to pay a combined total of $ 30,000 in fines while changing their advertising claims and privacy policy disclosures, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday. A year-long investigation by his office found that the three made health claims that were not backed up by data or FDA-approval. They also found that the app makers weren’t forthright about how identifying information from users could be shared with third parties.

“Mobile health apps can benefit consumers if they function as advertised, do not make misleading claims, and protect sensitive user information,” Schneiderman said in a press release. “However, my office will not hesitate to take action against developers that disseminate unfounded information that is both deceptive and potentially harmful to everyday consumers.”