China's Intelligence Agency Warns That Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Pose Serious Data Leak Risks

China's Ministry of State Security has issued a public warning that consumer wearable devices including smartwatches and fitness trackers pose significant data security risks, citing the volume of sensitive personal information these devices collect and the potential for that data to be accessed by foreign entities, according to a report from MLex. The advisory reflects growing concern within Chinese security circles about the passive data collection capabilities built into fitness and health wearables. Modern smartwatches continuously gather biometric data including heart rate, sleep patterns, location history, and movement data. When aggregated, this data can reveal sensitive information about an individual's routine, health status, and whereabouts. The warning from the Ministry of State Security is notable given that China is simultaneously one of the world's largest manufacturers and consumers of wearable devices. Chinese brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, and several smaller manufacturers produce wearables that are sold both domestically and internationally. The advisory appears directed primarily at Chinese citizens using foreign-made wearables, particularly from US and European manufacturers, though the agency did not name specific brands or companies. The concern that foreign intelligence services could access data collected by consumer hardware sold in China has driven previous government guidance restricting iPhone and foreign device use by government employees. The warning follows broader Chinese government actions to limit data flows to foreign entities, including cybersecurity reviews of foreign software operating in sensitive sectors and restrictions on cross-border data transfers under China's Personal Information Protection Law. The wearables advisory extends this framework to consumer hardware in the health and fitness category.