How Mobile Health Apps Threaten Our Privacy?

Murat Uluk

Makale detayları

How Mobile Health Apps Threaten Our Privacy?

Yazarlar:

Murat Uluk

Yayıncı:

Kastamonu University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Kastamonu İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi Issue 14, pp.160-190

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352077

pISSN:

2667-727X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Health data consists of highly sensitive data about individuals mental and physical states. In addition to disease diagnoses, test results, and medical reports, health data include blood pressure, heart rate, sleep pattern, and daily activities. Many apps are available in mobile app stores for individuals to track, control, and manage their health. However, there is a lack of information about how these apps collect and process sensitive data and respect user privacy. Based on this, the study analyzed the 20 most popular mobile health apps on Google Play in Türkiye. The study examined which third-party trackers are included in the apps, what permissions they request from user devices, and how these are addressed in their privacy policies. The research was conducted between March 22 and March 29, 2024. The data demonstrate that foreign companies owned 75 of the apps, and all apps had 153 trackers. Each app had at least two different third-party trackers, with a high concentration of trackers belonging to Google and Meta. Most trackers were used for advertising and analytical purposes. The apps requested between a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 83 permissions to access specific features or data from the devices on which they were installed. 19 apps requested at least one permission labeled as specialdangerous. Although all the apps are available in Turkish, half have privacy policies only in English. Three apps had no policy, and seven apps had a Turkish policy. Turkish policies rarely mention the third-party trackers in the apps and the permissions they request. The readability of English policies is at least at the level of high school graduates andor university students. This study analyses practices in the monitoring of ones own health with a focus on privacy and reveals shortcomings in the field. Ensuring privacy is expected to contribute to private life and individual freedom.

 Health data consists of highly sensitive data about individuals mental and physical states. In addition to disease diagnoses, test results, and medical reports, health data include blood pressure, heart rate, sleep pattern, and daily activities. Many apps are available in mobile app stores for individuals to track, control, and manage their health. However, there is a lack of information about how these apps collect and process sensitive data and respect user privacy. Based on this, the study analyzed the 20 most popular mobile health apps on Google Play in Türkiye. The study examined which third-party trackers are included in the apps, what permissions they request from user devices, and how these are addressed in their privacy policies. The research was conducted between March 22 and March 29, 2024. The data demonstrate that foreign companies owned 75 of the apps, and all apps had 153 trackers. Each app had at least two different third-party trackers, with a high concentration of trackers belonging to Google and Meta. Most trackers were used for advertising and analytical purposes. The apps requested between a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 83 permissions to access specific features or data from the devices on which they were installed. 19 apps requested at least one permission labeled as specialdangerous. Although all the apps are available in Turkish, half have privacy policies only in English. Three apps had no policy, and seven apps had a Turkish policy. Turkish policies rarely mention the third-party trackers in the apps and the permissions they request. The readability of English policies is at least at the level of high school graduates andor university students. This study analyses practices in the monitoring of ones own health with a focus on privacy and reveals shortcomings in the field. Ensuring privacy is expected to contribute to private life and individual freedom.

 Health data consists of highly sensitive data about individuals mental and physical states. In addition to disease diagnoses, test results, and medical reports, health data include blood pressure, heart rate, sleep pattern, and daily activities. Many apps are available in mobile app stores for individuals to track, control, and manage their health. However, there is a lack of information about how these apps collect and process sensitive data and respect user privacy. Based on this, the study analyzed the 20 most popular mobile health apps on Google Play in Türkiye. The study examined which third-party trackers are included in the apps, what permissions they request from user devices, and how these are addressed in their privacy policies. The research was conducted between March 22 and March 29, 2024. The data demonstrate that foreign companies owned 75 of the apps, and all apps had 153 trackers. Each app had at least two different third-party trackers, with a high concentration of trackers belonging to Google and Meta. Most trackers were used for advertising and analytical purposes. The apps requested between a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 83 permissions to access specific features or data from the devices on which they were installed. 19 apps requested at least one permission labeled as specialdangerous. Although all the apps are available in Turkish, half have privacy policies only in English. Three apps had no policy, and seven apps had a Turkish policy. Turkish policies rarely mention the third-party trackers in the apps and the permissions they request. The readability of English policies is at least at the level of high school graduates andor university students. This study analyses practices in the monitoring of ones own health with a focus on privacy and reveals shortcomings in the field. Ensuring privacy is expected to contribute to private life and individual freedom.

 Sağlık verileri, bireylerin zihinsel ve fiziksel durumlarına ilişkin son derece hassas verilerden oluşur. Hastalıklar, tahlil sonuçları ve sağlık raporları gibi verilerin yanı sıra tansiyon, nabız, uyku düzeni ve gündelik aktiviteler de sağlık verileri arasında yer almaktadır. Mobil uygulama mağazalarında bireylerin sağlık durumunu takip etme, kontrol etme ve yönetmeleri için birçok uygulama bulunmaktadır. Hassas veriler toplayan ve işleyen bu uygulamaların kullanıcı mahremiyetine ne denli saygı duyarak süreci yürüttükleri hakkında bilgi eksikliği söz konusudur. Çalışma, Türkiyedeki Google Play mağazasında en popüler 20 mobil sağlık uygulamasının hangi üçüncü taraf izleyiciler barındırdıklarını, kullanıcı cihazlarından hangi izinleri talep ettiklerini ve gizlilik sözleşmelerinde bunları nasıl ele aldıklarını incelemiştir. Araştırma, 22 Mart  29 Mart 2024 tarihleri arasında gerçekleşmiştir. Elde edilen veriler, uygulamaların 75inin yabancı şirketlere ait olduğunu ve tüm uygulamalarda toplam 153 izleyicinin olduğunu göstermektedir. Tüm uygulamalarda en az iki farklı üçüncü taraf izleyici yer alırken, Google ve Metaya ait izleyicilerin yoğunluğu dikkat çekmektedir. İzleyicilerin büyük çoğunluğu reklam ve analitik amaçlar için kullanılmaktadır. Yüklendikleri cihazlardan belirli özellik veya verilere erişmek için en çok 83, en az 9 izin istenmiştir. 19 uygulama en az bir özeltehlikeli olarak etiketlenen izin istenmiştir. Uygulamaların hepsi Türkçe olmasına rağmen yarısının gizlilik sözleşmesi İngilizcedir. 3 uygulamanın sözleşmesi hiç yoktur, 7 uygulamanın sözleşmesi Türkçedir. Türkçe sözleşmelerde uygulamaların sahip olduğu izleyiciler ve talep ettikleri izinler nadiren yer almaktadır. İngilizce sözleşmelerin okunabilirlik seviyesi en az lise mezunu veveya üniversite öğrencisi seviyesindedir. Çalışma, sağlık alanındaki uygulamaları mahremiyet odaklı çözümleyerek alandaki eksikleri ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu alanda mahremiyetin sağlanmasının özel yaşama ve bireysel özgürlüklere katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Makale detayları

How Mobile Health Apps Threaten Our Privacy?

Yazarlar:

Murat Uluk

Yayıncı:

Kastamonu University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Kastamonu İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi Issue 14, pp.160-190

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352077

pISSN:

2667-727X

health data

privacy

mobile apps

third-party trackerssağlık verileri

mahremiyet

mobil uygulamalar

üçüncü taraf izleyiciler

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Murat Uluk

Yayıncı: Kastamonu University

Ana Başlıklar: İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi: Kastamonu İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi Issue 14, pp.160-190

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001352077

pISSN: 2667-727X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Murat Uluk

Yayıncı:

Kastamonu University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Kastamonu İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi Issue 14, pp.160-190

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352077

pISSN:

2667-727X