FTC sues health tech firm Hims & Hers over data shared with Meta

The FTC and the states of Utah and California have filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers, a telehealth provider, for allegedly failing to protect health data privacy. The suit claims the company shared sensitive health information with third-party ad platforms like Meta and Snap, despite privacy assurances. Additionally, Hims & Hers is accused of deceptive billing practices, including charging users before consultations and making subscription cancellations difficult.

The FTC's actions highlight broader trends in privacy failures, including the discrepancy between advertised privacy policies and actual practices, the use of 'dark patterns' in user interface design, and growing regulatory scrutiny of health-related services. Consumers are advised to be cautious with health tech services, as the case emphasizes that privacy is not guaranteed.