Apple faces class-action lawsuit alleging 'racial bias' in watch's blood oximeter

A New York man filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple on Dec. 24, alleging that the Apple Watch's blood oximeter has a "racial bias" against individuals with darker skin tones. 

The Blood Oxygen app is available on Apple Watch Series 6 and newer and can "measure the oxygen level of your blood on-demand directly from your wrist, providing you with insights into your overall wellness," Apple explains. 

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.