Strava has been forced to drop a controversial trial after widespread criticism for publishing the private data of runners, hikers, and other athletes who use the app.
Bewildered users were stunned to realise that workout data from synced Garmin sports watches and workout apps Runna and TrainingPeaks was suddenly being made public on the app.
They took to the internet to complain that detailed information, including pacing notes, custom workout names, and coaching comments, appeared in place of previously generic activity titles like 'afternoon run'.
"Making previously private data public should always be accompanied by a notification beforehand," complained Reddit user alexanderhumbolt.
"There are many people (including me) who may not want to share their workout names."
After widespread criticism, Strava said the changes had been part of a two-day test, and it had now ended.
In a statement to Advnture, Strava said: "This past Monday, June 2 we ran a short-lived test to surface workout titles and descriptions. After listening to our community, we ended the test on Wednesday, June 4. We appreciate the feedback and have no plans to revisit this."
Syncing accounts means that Strava will automatically post workout data from your Garmin sports watch, although this information is usually limited to basic stats like your time, distance, and pace, and labelled with a generic moniker.
Further information from the Runna and TrainingPeaks apps was also made public. Both provide personalized workout plans to help you up your game on the trails, and can be synced with Strava.
What was published?
During the test, users reported wide ranging formerly private data appearing on their Strava feeds. The full list is as follows:
- Coach notes
- Custom workout titles
- Pacing guidance
- Personal targets
- Training descriptions
Past controversy
Strava is no stranger to information controversies. In 2018, it prompted security concerns after publishing a heatmap that inadvertently revealed the movements of military personnel in bases around the world.
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