Updated on Nov. 20
We wanted to provide some additional context around the changes to our API Agreement and the impact for our users and developers. We currently anticipate these changes will impact less than .1% of applications and proactively notified the majority of those affected last week.
Enhanced Privacy and User Control
Privacy and user control are at the forefront of our platform. As a result, we are committed to evolving our API practices as regulatory requirements and user expectations shift. This includes the decision to limit the ability of a user’s data to be displayed by third-party apps in ways the user may not expect. Specifically, we want to thoughtfully address situations where users connect to a third-party app and are unaware that their data is being surfaced not just for their own use and visibility, but also to other users (for example, in a public feed or heatmap). The latest API changes address this scenario and provide a more consistent framework for Strava user data.
Training AI Models
We believe in the potential of AI to transform the athlete experience–whether it’s delivering more personalized insights to help you reach your goals, generating route or training recommendations, or countless other possibilities. But innovation in this space must be handled responsibly and with a firm focus on user control. As part of our generative AI features, we are committed to implementing thoughtful solutions that prioritize user control and the ability to opt out.
Third-party developers may not take such a deliberate approach to training AI models and as a result, we believe the best decision for the platform and for users is to prohibit the use of data extracted from Strava users in this manner. Our previous terms already disallowed the use of Strava user data in model training and development but we’ve made this more explicit in light of the increasing activity in this space.
No Impact to Most Developers
We recognize that our platform thrives because of the creativity and dedication of third-party developers who build tools to complement and extend Strava’s capabilities. We are steadfast in our commitment to fostering this ecosystem. We anticipate that these changes will affect only a small fraction (less than .1%) of the applications on the Strava platform–the overwhelming majority of existing use cases are still allowed, including coaching platforms focused on providing feedback to users and tools that help users understand their data and performance.
Collectively, these changes reflect our commitment to ensuring that Strava remains a trusted platform for athletes and developers alike. That means holding ourselves—and anyone building on our platform—to high standards.
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Posted on Nov. 15
Strava Community –
As a part of our commitment to privacy and transparency, we want to keep our community informed about important updates on how Strava data can be displayed, accessed, and used by third-party apps. If you have granted a third-party app access to your activity data, they will no longer be able to display it within their surfaces to any user other than yourself. This update to our API Agreement went into effect recently and partners will have a month to update their apps to comply with these new standards.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s changing and why?
- Stronger Data Privacy Standards:
Third-party apps are no longer able to display your Strava activity data on their surfaces to other users.
- Data Use Limitations:
We’re updating our terms to explicitly prohibit third parties from using any data obtained via Strava’s API in artificial intelligence models or other similar applications.
- Protecting the Strava Experience:
We’re adding new terms to safeguard Strava’s experience. We’re adding terms that ask third-party apps to maintain a design that complements Strava’s distinctive look and feel, rather than replicating it. This change helps ensure users can clearly distinguish between Strava and third-party platforms.
What these updates mean for you
You’ll still have access to your personal Strava data across apps connected to Strava, but you may notice changes in how that data appears or is used by some apps as they adjust to the new privacy terms. These updates are part of our continued focus on maintaining strict privacy standards for your data.
Why are we making this change now?
Strava’s open platform enables third-party developers to create tools that enrich your fitness journey. As our community grows and technology—especially AI—evolves, we’re proactively refining our terms to stay ahead of advancements in data technology, helping to ensure we continue to uphold high standards of data security and privacy for our users. These updates are designed to give you greater control and transparency over your data, helping to ensure that you continue to enjoy a secure, high-quality experience with Strava and its connected apps and devices.
Note: Per our Community Guidelines and Guidelines to Ideas, posts requesting or attempting to have Strava revert business decisions will not be permitted.