Personal Data Collection on Sweatcoin
The free service necessarily implies a counterpart. The cost can be egregious, such as integrating ads on websites and applications. However, it is sometimes less obvious as the monetization of personal data. This practice is still acceptable, as long as users are informed.
Thus, the registrations will be made with full knowledge of the facts.
How Sweatcoin uses my personal data ?
In its privacy policy, the step counter explains how the personal data collection on Sweatcoin. This information will primarily be used for tracking to perfect the offering, depending on the company. Indeed, applications and connected services generally need feedback to improve their technology.
This type of approach is therefore quite widespread.
Similarly, first and last names are commonly needed to distinguish between different members of a platform. The e-mail address is also required to send notifications, news, newsletters… In addition to these usual options, Sweatcoin makes it clear that some personal information will be sold to third parties to conduct :
- Benchmarking;
- Market research;
- Research on health and wellness.
Possible uses are provided in the application as a guide. For example, they are far from exhaustive. However, the publisher is transparent about the collection and processing of personal data. It informs future members about the monetization of the information obtained.
Registration therefore constitutes acceptance of the terms of use.
How it collects it ?
The mobile application is the main element of the personal data collection on Sweatcoin. It allows you to collect and send information from your Android or iOS mobile device. This information will be aggregated and anonymized before being used for statistical, analytical, academic purposes… Thus, it will not identify you.
You will only be a profile in a study.
Concretely, the step counter processes separately your walking and identification data (name, first name, phone number and email). These will be used primarily to authenticate you and remain confidential. The application can on the other hand monetize information on your daily activity.
It is about your performances, your attendance, your preferences, your geographical position, etc.
You have the option to stop the use of your data by leaving the platform. The application will then delete all personal information, including the email address used to contact members. In addition, you can easily learn how to delete a Sweatcoin account. However, data collection is a practice that is difficult to avoid online.
Therefore, this initiative will not really protect you from the use of this information.
Can I object? ?
In theory, you can opt out of some of the personal data collection on Sweatcoin. The app actually asks for permissions to access certain features on your smartphone such as:
- Your phonebook;
- Your calls;
- Your photo and video gallery;
- Your Wi-Fi network;
- Your browsing history and preferences.
Simply select "Do Not Allow" to prevent the program from viewing this information. In practice, this decision may affect the application's day-to-day performance. However, the consequences may vary depending on the device.
Some smartphones block, for example, programs that do not have all the required permissions during installation.
On the other hand, your geolocation is essential for the good functioning of the step counter. You must therefore allow it to use your GPS, if you want to earn rewards for your daily walks. Therefore, you will not be able to object to the tracking of your location and the deployment of the associated functions.
You will be exposed to geo-targeted marketing actions.