Strava Updates API to Enhance User Privacy

Strava has implemented significant changes to its API, effective November 11, aimed at enhancing user privacy and data control. The new terms restrict third-party apps from displaying users' Strava activity data publicly, effectively crippling many coaching and analytics platforms that rely on this data. Moreover, third-party applications are prohibited from using Strava data for artificial intelligence or analytics purposes, which has caused concern among users and developers alike. Strava's measures are presented as a way to safeguard user experience and privacy, although many in the fitness tech community view these changes as detrimental to the ecosystem that has grown around the app. Users have expressed frustration that they were given little notice about these changes, which could significantly impact how they track and share their fitness activities. The updated API agreement has been described as a move that may alienate Strava's partners and users by limiting their data sharing capabilities.