RFK Jr. Wants You WIRED? Critics See ‘Voluntary’ Wearables as Digital Leash

Washington, D.C. — In a move that’s ignited both applause and alarm, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a sweeping initiative to get every American wearing a health-tracking device by 2029—and the backlash is already boiling over.

Speaking before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Kennedy declared that wearables like smartwatches, glucose monitors, and fitness rings are the key to his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. “It’s a way people can take control of their own health,” he said, touting the benefits of real-time feedback on diet, heart rate, and lifestyle choices.

But critics aren’t buying the wellness pitch.

Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups are raising red flags, warning that the mass adoption of wearables could open the floodgates to government surveillance, corporate data mining, and insurance discrimination. Social media exploded with conspiracy-laced commentary, with one user quipping, “The party of ‘personal freedom’ sure does love tracking your every move”.

Kennedy insists the program is voluntary and focused on empowerment, not enforcement. Still, the Department of Health and Human Services is preparing one of its largest advertising campaigns in history to promote the devices—a move some see as soft coercion.

Meanwhile, tech companies are celebrating. Stocks for wearable manufacturers like Dexcom and Abbott surged following the announcement, signaling Wall Street’s enthusiasm for a government-backed health tech boom.

Whether this is a bold leap toward preventive care or a slippery slope into biometric overreach remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: RFK Jr. just made your wrist the hottest battleground in America’s health debate.