Mental health apps have terrible privacy protections
As a category, mental health apps have worse privacy protections for users than most other types of apps, according to a new analysis from researchers at Mozilla. Prayer apps also had poor privacy standards, the team found.
In the latest iteration of the guide, the team analyzed 32 mental health and prayer apps. Of those apps, 29 were given a “privacy not included” warning label, indicating that the team had concerns about how the app managed user data. The apps are designed for sensitive issues like mental health conditions, yet collect large amounts of personal data under vague privacy policies, the team said in the statement. Most apps also had poor security practices, letting users create accounts with weak passwords despite containing deeply personal information.
The apps with the worst practices, according to Mozilla, are Better Help, Youper, Woebot, Better Stop Suicide, Pray.com, and Talkspace. The AI chatbot Woebot, for example, says it collects information about users from third parties and shares user information for advertising purposes. Therapy provider Talkspace collects user chat transcripts.
Source: Mental health apps have terrible privacy protections, report finds – The Verge
September 8, 2023 @ 17:23
Which leaves me wondering how many therapists (including counsellors, psychotherapists; mental and physical health therapists) have been trained in information security, and whether they can be aware of their data risks.
October 4, 2023 @ 16:40
Privacy is paramount, especially in the context of mental health apps where users share sensitive and personal information. Your analysis of the shortcomings in privacy protections highlights the urgency for change in this field.