On December 24, a New York man filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, saying that the Apple Watch’s blood oximeter exhibits a “racial bias” against those with darker skin tones.
The Blood Oxygen app is compatible with Apple Watch Series 6 and later and can “test the oxygen level of your blood on-demand directly from your wrist, providing you with insights into your overall wellness,” according to Apple.
New York resident Alex Morales alleges that he purchased an Apple Watch between 2020 and 2021, and was aware that the watch “purported to measure blood oxygen levels and he believed it did this without regard to skin tone,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York.
According to the lawsuit, during the coronavirus epidemic, researchers “confirmed the clinical significance of racial bias in pulse oximetry” by using patient records.
“For decades, there have been reports that such devices were significantly less accurate in measuring blood oxygen levels based on skin color,” the lawsuit reads.
“The ‘real world significance’ of this bias lay unaddressed until the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, which converged with a greater awareness of structural racism which exists in many aspects of society.”
On Monday, Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Blood Oxygen app is “only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes,” according to the tech company’s website.
“Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor,” Apple writes.