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FTC sues Hims & Hers for allegedly sharing patients’ medical data withadvertisers Meta and Snap
The FTC has filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers for allegedly sharing customers' medical data with advertisers like Meta and Snap, violating privacy practices and consumer laws. The complaint highlights the use of pixel trackers that allegedly captured health information contrary to Hims & Hers' stated privacy policy. The suit reflects a broader trend of regulatory action against healthcare companies for data sharing.
Key points
- FTC is suing Hims & Hers for alleged sharing of sensitive medical data with Meta and Snap.
- Complaint filed in California federal court claims use of pixel trackers to capture health information.
- Hims & Hers accused of deceptive billing and creating policies that hinder user cancellation.
- FTC's actions are part of a larger movement against healthcare firms that mishandle patient data.
- Hims & Hers, while not denying the claims, defends its data usage according to its privacy policy.
Why it matters
- The lawsuit is indicative of a growing scrutiny of data privacy practices in the digital health realm.
- Previous FTC actions include those against other healthcare firms like Cerebral and GoodRx for similar data sharing issues.
- 2025 IT trends focus on enhanced data privacy and security measures, which are becoming essential in the healthcare sector.
The FTC's lawsuit against Hims & Hers underscores the increasing regulatory focus on privacy violations in healthcare, raising awareness about data security practices and the responsibilities firms have in protecting sensitive patient information.