Trump’s Health Records Program Raises Privacy Concerns/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has launched a new health initiative urging Americans to share medical data via apps run by tech giants. Google, Apple, Amazon, and health firms will integrate with the system. While officials claim benefits, experts warn of serious privacy risks.
Trump’s Health Data Plan Quick Looks
- Trump unveils a health tracking system with Big Tech
- Google, Amazon, Apple, and CVS Health among partners
- Patients can opt-in to share health records and data
- Focus areas include diabetes, weight loss, and wellness tracking
- Officials promise easier access to records via mobile apps
- Critics raise alarms over privacy and data monetization
- CMS to recommend apps for chronic disease management
- The system expands on a failed 2018 attempt under Trump
Deep Look: Trump Launches Health Data Program With Big Tech Support
In a sweeping new initiative, the Trump administration has launched a digital health program that encourages Americans to upload their medical records and personal health data into systems and applications managed by major tech companies. Framed as a long-overdue modernization of the U.S. healthcare system, the program promises convenience and accessibility—but it also ignites serious concerns over data privacy and ethical use.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House event surrounded by CEOs from top technology and health care firms, called the announcement a milestone moment in American health care.
“The dream of easily transportable electronic medical records finally becomes a reality,” Trump declared, calling the move a “major step to bring health care into the digital age.”
The administration claims the program will empower patients by giving them greater control over their health data through integrations with tools from more than 60 major companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, CVS Health, and UnitedHealth Group.
The new platform will initially prioritize diabetes and obesity care, leveraging artificial intelligence, digital check-ins, medication tracking, and QR code-based health services. Patients will have the option to opt into the system, which federal officials insist will be secure and transparent.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), praised the program’s potential.
“We’re going to have remarkable advances in how consumers can use their own records,” Oz said.
One key participant, Noom—a subscription-based health and weight loss platform—plans to incorporate electronic health records into its AI-based recommendations. According to CEO Geoff Cook, apps like Noom will be able to access lab results and other data to generate personalized insights.
“Right now you have a lot of siloed data,” Cook noted. “This system connects it all.”
Healthcare providers also see the potential upside. Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic said the new system could eliminate long-standing issues with fragmented patient data, helping physicians make more accurate diagnoses and avoid treatment delays.
Doctors will be able to access real-time data about patient diets, exercise habits, and medication adherence—information that can significantly impact chronic disease management.
But the initiative is drawing harsh criticism from privacy advocates and legal experts. Georgetown University law professor Lawrence Gostin warned of “enormous ethical and legal concerns,” noting that highly sensitive health data—such as mental health history or substance abuse records—could be exploited or misused.
“Patients across America should be very worried,” Gostin said. “This opens the door to harm.”
Critics are particularly alarmed by the administration’s recent history of questionable data-sharing practices. Earlier this month, CMS reportedly agreed to hand over parts of its Medicare and Medicaid database—including home addresses—to immigration enforcement officials. With over 140 million Americans in the system, privacy advocates fear an even deeper surveillance infrastructure.
Jeffrey Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy called the plan “an open door for the further use and monetization of sensitive and personal health information.”
He also criticized the federal government for failing to regulate health apps and telehealth platforms, many of which already collect user data without adequate oversight.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a key supporter of the initiative, has long advocated for digital health innovation. His vision includes widespread use of wearable devices and telemedicine tools, as well as more access to population-level health data to investigate conditions like autism and vaccine-related safety.
Despite the Trump administration’s assurances of security and consent, the legal safeguards for consumers remain underdeveloped. CMS says it will highlight government-approved health management apps on Medicare.gov to guide patients in selecting reputable platforms for chronic disease care and provider selection.
This initiative builds upon a less ambitious health data project launched by Trump in 2018, which failed to gain traction due to limited participation by tech firms. Now, with broad industry support, the administration appears poised to push the project into national adoption—despite the legal gray zones surrounding data ownership and usage.
As the program rolls out in early 2026, the debate continues: Will the convenience of digital health records outweigh the potential risks to personal privacy? Or is this just the beginning of an era where tech companies gain unprecedented access to Americans’ most sensitive data?
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