Obamacare Site Gives Personal Data to Outside Websites
Just as President Obama is calling for stronger cybersecurity protections, the government's health insurance website is passing registrants' personal information to outside websites.
Screenshot of healthcare.gov image
Screenshot of healthcare.gov image
Just as President Obama is calling for stronger cybersecurity protections, the government’s health insurance website is passing registrants’ personal information to outside websites.
The AP reports via The Guardian:
It works like this: when you apply for coverage on HealthCare.gov, dozens of data companies may be able to tell that you are on the site. Some can even glean details such as your age, income, Zip code, whether you smoke or if you are pregnant.
HealthCare.gov contains embedded connections to multiple data firms the administration says generate analysis to improve the consumer experience. Officials say outside firms are barred from using the data to further their own business interests.
Still, ever-evolving technology allows for individual internet users to be tracked, building profiles coveted by advertisers. Connections to third-party tech firms were documented by technology experts who analysed HealthCare.gov, and confirmed by the Associated Press. There is no evidence that personal information from HealthCare.gov has been misused, but the high number of outside connections is raising questions.
Read more here.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
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