Apple Publishes HomeKit and HealthKit App Guidelines

Apple has updated its app review policy for any application that will take advantage of theHomeKit and HealthKitAPIs, to help ensure privacy and security of data.

These new rules must be met for any app using HomeKit or HealthKit to appear in Apple's App Store. The new rules specify the following:

HomeKit Rules

• The primary purpose of apps that make use of HomeKit must be home automation services.


• Apps that use HomeKit must indicate in their marketing materials that HomeKit is being used, and must also provide a privacy policy.


• Apps may not use the HomeKit API to gather data for advertising or use-based data mining.


• Any app that uses data gathered from the HomeKit API other than to improve the user experience or hardware/software performance in providing home automation functionality will be rejected.
  

  HealthKit Rules

  • Apps using HealthKit may only store data locally; use of iCloud for data storage will be cause for rejection of the app.
  
  
  • Apps that write inaccurate data into HealthKit files will be rejected.
  
  
  • Apps may not use data gathered from HealthKit for advertising or use-based data mining, other than health, medical, and fitness management, or for medical research.
  
  
  • Apps may not share HealthKit data with third parties without the user's consent.
  
  
  • Apps that make use of HealthKit must disclose that HealthKit is being used.
  
  
  • Apps that make use of HealthKit must have a privacy policy.
  
  
  • Apps that provide diagnoses or treatment advice, or control hardware designed to diagnose or treat medical conditions, must have written regulatory approval or the app will be rejected.
  
  
  • Apps that use HealthKit must comply with all applicable laws for the territory in which the apps will be made available.
  It should be noted that the rules for HealthKit and HomeKit usage pertain to apps that are being made available through Apple's App Store. It's possible for a developer to create a HealthKit or HomeKit app that is distributed through other channels. Such an app would not have to meet any of Apple's requirements.
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• It's clear that Apple is attempting to ensure that HealthKit and HomeKit don't become data-mining gold mines for marketing and advertising services, at least not without openly publishing the intended usage of the collected data and receiving permission from the end user.
• There's no doubt in my mind that HealthKit and HomeKit have the potential to change how personal health and the home environment are managed. It's also clear that in order to provide these types of services, apps must acquire incredibly personal information. Appropriate safeguards must be put in place to protect us from the unintended or nefarious use of this type of personal information.
  Walking down the street and having a HealthKit app monitor my distance traveled, number of steps taken, even oxygen take-up - this I like. Seeing an ad pop up as I walk past a pharmacy, telling me it has a better deal on my specific prescriptions - not so much.

تصنيف : macs