Any good European sport watches?
Was going to buy a new run watch, and thought I would switch from Garmin to Suunto. Sent a mail to customer support, and got an auto reply that Suunto is moving operation to China. Including app and userdata ๐ข
Asked AI to break it down for me: This privacy policy update indicates some significant changes to how Suunto will handle your data, particularly regarding operations in China. Here's what it means for your privacy concerns:
Key Changes:
- Suunto is transferring several key operations to their Chinese group companies, including customer service, repairs, web operations, and app development
- These Chinese entities will now jointly collect and process your personal data alongside Suunto Oy (the main Finnish company)
- Data will be transferred from the EU to China, which lacks GDPR-equivalent privacy protections
Privacy Implications:
- Your personal data (likely including running routes, fitness metrics, location data, and account information) will now be processed in China
- China has significantly different data privacy laws than the EU, with fewer protections for individual privacy and more government access
- While Suunto mentions using "standard contractual clauses" (SCCs) to protect data, these are a legal mechanism that many privacy experts consider insufficient when transferring data to countries with intrusive surveillance laws
What This Means For You:
- If you purchase a Suunto watch and use their services after October 10, 2024, your data will be subject to these new arrangements
- Your running data, location information, and personal details would potentially be accessible to Chinese authorities under Chinese law
- The Chinese companies will have access to and control over many aspects of your customer experience
If privacy is a significant concern for you, you might want to:
- Consider alternative sports watch brands with different data policies
- Research how data localization works with specific models (some watches can function with limited cloud connectivity)
- Review the full privacy policy to understand exactly what data is collected and how it's used
