Can someone explain why the app needs access?

[SunsetRunner]

Can someone explain to me why the Android Fitbit app needs access to my Location, SMS, Device ID & call information and access to my Contacts/Calendar information?

[gdio53]

Isn't the access to camera needed for scanning food barcodes?

[Rich_Laue]

Yes, since i don't track food i forgot about that

[GerryN]

You could have an option that requires almost no permissions that allows people to add all of those things manually. I do NOT want everyone in my contacts to be treated like my fitbit friends. Some of those contacts are business associates, not buddies. Sorry to burst your bubble, but a fitbit association is not always desirable even if people share phone numbers.

[GerryN]

How is it that I can see others that have fitbits if they can't see me? Surely, if I can see them, they can see me.

[GerryN]

Which means people that have MY contact will see ME. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE CONTACTING ME ABOUT MY FITBIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GerryN]

Oh... Fitbit is equivalent to Google. Well why didn't you say so in the first place. I didn't realize they already had the trust of MILLIONS of people.

[Rich_Laue]

People that have you in their contacts will not see that you have a fitbit, unless they also have a fitbit. and have gone to their friends page on Fitbit and have asked Fitbit to search their contacts for Fitbit owners. Also note that the email address that they have for you must also be the email address that yoh registered with Fitbit.
Aa for when to give permissio to the app, yes it might be possible to have thr app do this anytime that it needs permission, but do you really want to do this everytime you sync, track a run, set your timezone or simply update the dashboard. Fitbit will only access these other functions at your command, and with the exeption of the actual data the tracker collects, unlike Google Fitbit does not store any of this data.

The permission is requested simply for the convenience of not having to request  it at some time in the future should you want the app to access these functions. I'll reiterate the app will only do what you have asked if it, if you never use GPS, have it search your contacts, share an wv ed nt, there is ni reson for the app to look at the contact, access gos, or photos, cameras, etc, and it will not.

[GerryN]

Saying that Fitbit does not store any of my personal data does not mean that Fitbit does not store and WILL NEVER store any of my personal data.
Besides, I can use the PC software without Fitbit getting all of my data and access to all my cell phone capabilities. Why can't there be a cell phone app like that?

[ewallin]

Hello,

I understand your concern and I can see a growing trend that many
products are now de-selected just because they behave in an intrusive
manner. I know for a fact that Fitbit is de-selected by many for this
reason.

I believe that FitBit should read the new trend and stop that behaviour
where they make it compulsory to give them access to the contact database.

I am convinced that FitBit would gain if they change strategy here.....

brgds
ewallin

[geckogal]

Thanks for your reply. I hope you are right that Fitbit and other companies are more thoughtful privacy issues and what participants actually need to share to make use of their products. I know that I would be using the fitbit phone app if they were less intrusive. Again, thank you for your reply.

[Rich_Laue]

Please read the Privacy Policy found below, and on every other Fitbit page

http://www.fitbit.com/privacy

[HarleyQ]

I get the GPS thing while out and about but I should not have to enable my location just to sync my steps throughout the day. It never needed it before and it shouldn't need it now.

[skeptic-user]

Fitbit mobile app was flagged as requiring access to my camera for taking pictures and the microphone for making recordings. I fail to understand why that's necessary in the least. Since I can't selectively disable them in Android, I uninstalled the application. 

Voting with my feet on this one folks.

Fix the mobile app and I "may" re install, otherwise I'll just use the step counter built into my smart phone.

[gdio53]

---

@skeptic-user wrote:

Fitbit mobile app was flagged as requiring access to my camera for taking pictures and the microphone for making recordings. I fail to understand why that's necessary in the least. Since I can't selectively disable them in Android, I uninstalled the application. 

Voting with my feet on this one folks.

Fix the mobile app and I "may" re install, otherwise I'll just use the step counter built into my smart phone.

---

Camera access is needed to scan the bar code on food items so you can keep track of your calorie intake.

[HarleyQ]

Which is stupid because 99% of the items I've ever tried to scan come up as item not in database so I had to manually enter the info. It didnt even have 16oz coca cola for crying out loud. I only did this for a week or two before it became more trouble than it was worth anyway. How many people really are scanning their food items in? Good luck scanning in a decent home cooked dinner....those dont come with UPCs

[Rich_Laue]

You're still able to find a 16oz coca cola? This actually would be understandable since soda has a barcode that is set to the state or is sold in.

[Rich_Laue]

@HarleyQ of your running the latest Android the operating system requires location on to sync, it is not Fitbits doing.

[HarleyQ]

😊Yes, my store sells 6 cases of single cans every few days! We like our coke in cans in the Midwest 😉

[PrototypeChad]

Where in the Midwest?

[ewallin]

I still don't see why you don't make an option in your app to leave the contact database out of it.

You would multiply your number of followers manyfold if you did that.

Many people do not symphatize  with the idea that you use information in the contact database for commersials.

And doing it behind the back of your users create badwill on a scale you can't imagine