FTC proposes BetterHelp pay $7.8M for sharing health data
By 
Adrianne Appel2023-03-02T21:17:00
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed requiring online counseling service BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million as part of a settlement addressing charges it shared clients’ personal health data with Facebook, Snapchat, and other third parties for advertising purposes.
If the agency’s order against BetterHelp becomes final, it would be the first FTC action that remunerates consumers for violations involving private health data, according to a press release Thursday. The $7.8 million would be used to provide partial refunds to consumers who paid for BetterHelp’s services between August 2017 and December 2020.
The commission voted 4-0 to adopt the proposed order. The FTC will decide whether to make it final after a 30-day public comment period.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
News BriefFTC, HHS warn hospitals over use of online tracking tech
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services sent letters to approximately 130 hospital systems and telehealth providers regarding potential patient privacy violations and security risks stemming from online tracking technologies.
-
News BriefFTC attorney warns of scrutiny toward AI claims in marketing
The Federal Trade Commission is keeping close watch on companies that use the term “artificial intelligence” when marketing their products.
-
News BriefSens press telehealth firms on alleged sharing of patient data for ads
A bipartisan group of senators is leaning on three telehealth firms accused of tracking and sharing patients’ sensitive personal information with advertising platforms like Google and Facebook.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
ArticleFalse Claims Act enforcement themes for 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice touted a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries in fiscal year 2025, much of that total stems from prior years’ cases and does not necessarily reflect the administration’s current enforcement direction.
-
ArticleFederal jury convicts former coal executive in Egypt-linked coal FCPA case
A former vice president of an American coal company was convicted by a federal jury for his part in an international bribery and money laundering scheme. The conviction represents an anomoly in the Trump administration’s handling of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases launched under former President Joe Biden.
-
ArticleU.K. financial regulator cuts cases to focus on investigations that achieve results
The U.K. financial regulator has dropped 100 investigations without action over the past three years, but compliance should expect a refocus of resources rather than a retreat from enforcement.