Big brother: Apple wants to play psychologist
According to leaked documents, Apple is working on an almighty algorithm that can recognize depression, among other things. Scary or handy?
Apple has been putting a lot of effort into privacy in recent years, but secretly they may be working on a function that can infringe a lot on your privacy. According to documents seen by The Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 13 maker is working on technology to monitor your mental health (paywall, via TechCrunch). For example, Apple wants to be able to recognize whether you currently have depression. But is that such a good idea?
Apple recognizes depression
So, according to the leaked documents, Apple plans to monitor your mental health. Based on mobility, physical movement, sleeping patterns and typing behavior, Apple wants to develop an algorithm to recognize depression, among other things. This should also recognize other cognitive and anxiety disorders. They are collaborating with the University of Los Angeles and an American pharmaceutical company.
On the one hand, mental health is an extremely relevant theme. Due to the corona pandemic and in a more general sense modern life, many elderly and young people suffer from psychological complaints. Since we already have so much data to hand over to companies like Apple, in theory they better do something good with it.
On the other hand, few things are more personal and sensitive than your mental health. Apple can figure out a lot about you with the right data and this questionable algorithm. Let alone that this information becomes public for whatever reason.
For the record, Apple does not want to develop a replacement for the doctor, therapist or psychiatrist with this. At least not yet. This is strictly an indication for the user himself. It can give someone the impetus to seek help. On the other hand, imagine that after a long depression you are finally doing really well and Apple keeps claiming that you still have depression. Do you listen to your body or do you doubt yourself again?
