The Apple Watch is sued in the United States for “racial bias”.
The oxygen sensor embedded in the brand’s watches since the Apple Watch 6 would work differently depending on the type of skin.
The oximeter, a star function of the decried Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has several popular health features among its users. Among these, the oximeter, a sensor that measures the level of oxygen in the blood. This novelty made its appearance in September 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic during which the general public learned the importance of oxygen saturation.
Since then, this little gem from Apple has received many praises. A study published in the SAGE Newspaper even argued in October that this sensor could be compared to medical-grade oximeters in terms of its effectiveness. However, it would also have its limits.
Indeed, the New York Post informs us that a class action lawsuit was filed on December 24 against the Apple Watch by a New York resident by the name of Alex Morales. For the latter, the smart watch would suffer from “ racial bias “, its effectiveness altering when the wearer of the product has darker skin.
Apple did not take into account the problem of skin color
Alex Morales explains that he bought an Apple Watch between 2020 and 2021, in particular because of the presence of this oximeter. But he would have quickly realized different results depending on whether the wearer was white or black. However, according to the complaint, the watch was ” supposed to measure blood oxygen levels, and he thought it did so regardless of skin tone “.
” For decades, these devices have been reported to be much less accurate at measuring blood oxygen levels based on skin color. “, is it also specified in the same document.
As a result, Alex Morales filed a lawsuit on behalf of all New York consumers who acquired an Apple Watch within the legal timeframe. He also did so on behalf of the residents of Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For him, Apple would have violated consumer fraud laws and would be guilty of unjust enrichment and breach of express warranty. Case to follow?
Sources: New York Post, Apple Insider
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