Topic: Fitbit

The Australian consumer watchdog (ACCC) has issued a warning regarding Google's $3 billion acquisition of Fitbit, citing concerns over the long-term use of sensitive health data. Despite Google's assurances that the data will not be used for advertising, critics point to past instances where tech giants changed their terms of service after an acquisition. Australian media personality Dame Sarah is credited for highlighting these privacy risks.

John Hancock, a major life insurer, announces it will stop selling traditional policies in favor of "interactive" ones that require customers to wear fitness trackers. Premiums will be tied to data from devices like the Apple Watch or Fitbit. This shift is criticized as a move toward a "slavish" relationship where insurance companies monitor every aspect of a customer's health.

The FBI is investigating the disappearance of University of Iowa student Molly Tibbetts, who went missing while jogging in Brooklyn, Iowa. Investigators are attempting to use her Fitbit data to establish a digital footprint and determine her last known location. The case is currently being treated as a criminal investigation.

Sculley discusses his deep involvement in healthcare technology through companies like MDLive and Rally Health. He compares the current shift in healthcare to the rise of electronic banking, predicting that consumers will take more responsibility for their own wellness. He also touches on the 2014 Veterans Affairs (VA) crisis, noting that the backlog of care was predictable to those within the industry.

Phase three of the "Meaningful Use" program will reportedly require physicians to collect and share health data from 15% of their patients, including data from wearables like Fitbits. Failure to comply could result in cuts to Medicare reimbursements. This mandate is seen as a significant boon for tech companies like Apple and Fitbit as they integrate into the federal healthcare infrastructure.

Adam Curry proposes a "money-making" product idea: a Bluetooth-enabled vaporizer that syncs with a smartphone app and a Fitbit. The app would track nicotine levels, battery life, and heart rate, tweeting out "I just vaped" along with the user's location and dopamine release. They joke about the "quantified self" movement and the potential for developers to create social networks around vaping.

The emergence of Fitbit and other wearable fitness trackers is viewed as a precursor to government-mandated health monitoring. The hosts argue that these devices, backed by major Silicon Valley venture capital, will eventually be used to enforce wellness standards and track citizen behavior under the guise of preventative healthcare.