Skip to main content

Runkeeper is the latest mobile app to run afoul of privacy advocates

runkeeper ios update social
RunKeeper
Another day, another privacy scandal. It seems as though FitnessKeeper, the company behind the popular Runkeeper app, has been secretly gathering data about its users and selling that data to advertisers. No, not just when the app is active, but in the background as well.

The discovery was made by the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) as part of an extensive look at 20 popular apps and whether or not they do what their permissions say they do. The NCC has filed a formal complaints for breaching European privacy laws.

“We were recently made aware of a complaint filed by the Norwegian Consumer Council with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority,” CEO Jason Jacobs told Digital Trends.

“Our users’ privacy is of the utmost importance to us, and we take our obligation to comply with data protection laws very seriously. We are in the process of reviewing the issues raised in the complaint, and we will cooperate with the Norwegian DPA if it has any questions arising out of the complaint.”

According to the NCC, which is a consumer rights watchdog, Runkeeper tracks location data around the clock, then sends that data to a U.S.-based third-party advertiser, Kiip.me. The app was found to be still recording data for a period of up to 48 hours, even when the user’s smartphone was idle.

“Everyone understands that Runkeeper tracks users while they exercise, but to continue after the training has ended is not OK,” said NCC digital policy director Finn Myrstad in an interview with Ars Technica. “Not only is it a breach of privacy laws, we are also convinced that users do not want to be tracked in this way, or for information to be shared with third-party advertisers.”

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely FitnessKeeper will face any serious sanctions in Europe — the company has no European subsidiaries and is entirely based in the United States. As such, European agencies have limited power against it.

Ironically enough, Runkeeper seems to be concerned with its users being honest, having recently tweeted a picture asking “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve thought of while on a run?” with the caption “Be honest!”

As part of the NCC’s investigation, Tinder is also under scrutiny, but no formal complaints have yet been filed.

Updated on 05-14-2016 by Christian de Looper: Included comments from CEO Jason Jacobs.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Apple’s new App Privacy labels are disconcertingly inaccurate when put to test
apple app privacy label inaccurate

Apple is often lauded as the king of privacy among the tech giants, and to a certain extent, it is. After all, unlike Facebook and Google, Apple's business model is built around selling hardware and services -- not advertising to you. But the company's new "App Privacy" label feature, which was added to the App Store last month, may be better in theory than it is in practice -- at least for now.

According to a new report from The Washington Post, the privacy labels in the App Store may not be as accurate as they should be. The report notes that many apps that say they don't collect user data actually do, and often send that data straight to the likes of Google and Facebook.

Read more
Apple now requires app developers to disclose data collection and privacy info
iOS 14 App Library

Apple has always considered user privacy one of its core principles, often messaging (and marketing) that it feels it has a strong user-focused approach to privacy that differentiates it from other tech companies. The company announced new privacy initiatives at the Wordwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, and today one of the biggest parts goes into effect: App developers are now required to  their policies on collecting users' data right in their App Store listing.

Starting today, App Store listings will now have a clear and concise "App Privacy" breakdown of the data collected by the app and how that data is used by the developer. Users will see a breakdown of "Data Used to Track You" (data that could identify and follow you between apps) and "Data Linked to You" (data that will be tied to your device or accounts). Under each section, you'll see a brief list of categories like contact info, location, personal identifiers, financial info, purchases, and more.

Read more
The best running watches for 2022
Apple Watch SE Workout

Most smartwatches now cater to fitness enthusiasts and anyone who wants to keep an eye on their health. However, not all of them focus specifically on running, with some offering more jogging-oriented features than others. We've rounded up the best running watches available right now, from those that are pretty much all about running, to those that also offer a broader range of smartwatch features.

So whether you're a die-hard runner out every day, or someone who enjoys a bit of casual running, there's a running watch for you.
Garmin Forerunner 945

Read more