Wearables – Things to consider when buying and tips for use
Smartwatches and fitness trackers, which monitor your physical activity and bodily functions, are now widely used. Smart glasses, which make it easy to take and share photos and videos, are also gaining in popularity. As all these body-worn devices pose a particular threat to privacy, users should exercise particular caution when using them. The FDPIC publishes practical advice on this subject on its website.
Wearables are devices worn on the body and connected to the internet, which people use for various purposes. Integrated sensors record, for example, physical functions such as sleep or heart rate, as well as image and audio data, which may also originate from third parties and be disseminated via the internet.
Before making their choice, buyers should check how the manufacturer has configured it and whether the product allows for privacy-friendly settings; where collected data is stored; and whether the processing of such data is comprehensible overall.
Wearables with cameras and microphones can be used discreetly. There is a particular risk of covert recording when using smart glasses. The covert observation or recording of events and activities that fall within the private sphere of others may, in Switzerland – regardless of the origin of the products used – violate criminal law prohibitions.
The article on our website explains the data protection issues and provides practical advice on the responsible use of wearables.
Further Informations:
Wearables: Smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are now widely used, and smart glasses are becoming increasingly popular thanks to developments in the field of AI. What needs to be kept in mind when purchasing and using these devices?