Digital Health Company Allegedly Sold Sensitive Health Information To Facebook

Facebook’s business relies on collecting as much of our personal data as possible — even our most sensitive health information. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may want to see that practice come to an end. This week, the regulatory agency took enforcement action against digital health services company GoodRx for allegedly sending users’ health information to Facebook so the social media giant could run targeted ads.

According to the FTC’s complaint, this health data could be used to infer peoples’ “chronic physical or mental health conditions, medical treatments and treatment choices, life expectancy, disability status, information relating to parental status, substance addiction, sexual and reproductive health, [and] sexual orientation.” In one particularly alarming example, Facebook was able to run targeted ads for erectile dysfunction medication like Viagra based on the data.

“Digital health companies and mobile apps should not cash in on consumers’ extremely sensitive and personally identifiable health information,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is serving notice that it will use all of its legal authority to protect American consumers’ sensitive data from misuse and illegal exploitation.”

While this action is intended to serve as a warning to health companies, it’s also a shot across the bow for Facebook. Hopefully it causes the company to rethink how it handles our private health info.




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