Several popular wearable devices share user data with advertisers, affiliates, and partners while offering limited transparency and few user controls. Meta's Ray-Bans and Quest headsets upload collected media, use biometric data for advertising, and provide limited opt-outs. Samsung's Galaxy Watch shares data for personalized ads, and Xiaomi and Huawei transfer data to affiliates and partners, sometimes causing users to waive certain rights. Other brands, including Apple, Oura, Whoop, Withings, Coros, Dexcom, and Medtronic, refrain from selling collected data and provide clearer transparency, deletion options, and stronger security. Rating categories reflect transparency, user control, data sharing, and security practices.
Meta and its Ray-Bans and Quest headsets were among the worst data-sharing contenders out of dozens of wearable devices, according to VPNMentor. The Quest headset uses biometric data for ads, and both Meta wearables offer users limited opt-outs, according to the report. Other poorly rated wearables include Samsung's Galaxy Watch Series due to its sharing of data for personalized ads, and Xiaomi and Huawei for sharing data with affiliates and partners -- with users waiving some rights to their data.
The research rated brands poor, moderate, good, or excellent, with "excellent" meaning that the company offers clear transparency, strong user control (like the option to delete personal data), minimal data sharing, and robust security practices. "Poor" means the company lacks transparency around data-sharing tactics, shares data extensively, and provides little data protection. The wearable brands with the most excellent data sharing practices include Apple, Oura, Whoop, Withings, Coros, Dexcom, and Medtronic. The report says that these brands do not sell the data they collect.
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